Rabat – Cristiano Ronaldo sent a message of respect to Lionel Messi after the Argentine star’s final appearance for his national team, adding another symbolic moment to one of football’s most famous rivalries.
Ronaldo responded to a farewell post Messi shared after Argentina’s 3-0 friendly win over Benin at the Monumental Stadium on Tuesday.
“Leo, so many years defending your country and a story that will remain forever,” Ronaldo wrote. “All my respect for what you achieved with Argentina. A hug.”
The message attracted attention given the two players’ long-running sporting rivalry, which defined much of European football during their years at Real Madrid and Barcelona.
View this post on Instagram
Between them, Messi and Ronaldo won 13 Ballon d’Or awards and repeatedly competed for domestic, European and individual honors during more than a decade at the top of the game.
Messi ends Argentina career with goal and two assists
Messi’s farewell provided a fitting conclusion to his international career.
The 39-year-old scored once and provided two assists as Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 in front of more than 85,000 supporters at the Monumental. The appearance was his 208th and final match for the national team.
He finished his Argentina career with a national-record 126 goals, having led the Albiceleste to the 2022 World Cup and Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024.
Following the match, Messi published a lengthy farewell message reflecting on more than two decades with the national team.
He thanked his family, teammates, coaches and supporters while also remembering Diego Maradona and describing his journey with Argentina as one filled with both joy and difficult moments.
The Argentine Football Association organized an extensive farewell ceremony featuring music, fireworks, a drone display and tributes from teammates and supporters.
Messi also addressed the crowd after the final whistle, saying representing Argentina had been “the best thing” that happened to him in his career.
Ronaldo’s message added one of the most notable external tributes to Messi’s farewell, with the Portuguese forward publicly acknowledging the achievements of the player who shared football’s biggest individual stage with him for much of their careers.
