Cristiano Ronaldo pays tribute to Lionel Messi after Argentina farewell
The Ronaldo tribute to Messi arrived on Wednesday, a day after the Argentine great’s final match for his country. Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo set aside one of football’s great rivalries to honour Lionel Messi after the 39-year-old brought his 21-year international career to an end.
The farewell match
Messi played his last game for Argentina on Tuesday, October 6, a 3-0 friendly win over Benin at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. More than 85,000 fans packed the ground for the occasion. He set up the first two goals and scored the third himself from the penalty spot in the 70th minute: his 126th international goal on his 208th and final appearance.
It was the closing chapter of an international career that began in 2005 and peaked with the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar, alongside Copa America triumphs in 2021 and 2024 and the 2022 Finalissima.
Ronaldo’s message
On Wednesday, Messi posted a lengthy message on Instagram saying he already missed wearing the blue and white, and thanking the late Diego Maradona, his clubs and the fans. Ronaldo replied in the comments.
“Leo, after so many years of defending your country, you’ve made history that will last forever. I have the utmost respect for what you’ve accomplished with Argentina. A hug,” he wrote.
He was not the only one. Brazil great Ronaldinho, who played alongside Messi at Barcelona, and Neymar, his former team-mate at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, also paid public tributes.
An era closes
Messi and Ronaldo, 41, defined an era of football across nearly two decades, trading the Ballon d’Or between them while leading Barcelona and Real Madrid through one of the sport’s fiercest club rivalries. Messi’s retirement from international duty, announced on August 31, ends the Argentina chapter of that story.
Ronaldo, for his part, has said he has no plans to retire from international football and intends to carry on with Portugal.
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FAQs
What did Ronaldo say to Messi?
In a comment on Messi’s Instagram farewell post, Ronaldo wrote: “Leo, after so many years of defending your country, you’ve made history that will last forever. I have the utmost respect for what you’ve accomplished with Argentina. A hug.”
When was Messi’s last game for Argentina?
Tuesday, October 6, 2026, a 3-0 friendly win over Benin at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, played before more than 85,000 fans.
How many goals did Messi score for Argentina?
He scored 126 goals in 208 appearances, ending his international career as Argentina’s all-time top scorer.
