Ronaldo to Messi: I created a legacy that will last forever

Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo praised his historic rival Lionel Messi on Tuesday, following the Argentine’s announcement of his retirement from international football, bringing an end to one of the most famous individual rivalries in the history of the sport. Ronaldo commented on Messi’s farewell message on Instagram: “Leo, after all these years defending your country’s colors, you have created a legacy that will last forever. I have the utmost respect for what you have achieved with Argentina. A hug.”

Ronaldo’s message came after 39-year-old Messi played his final match for Argentina, scoring one goal and providing two assists in a 3-0 friendly victory over Benin, in front of more than 85,000 fans at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, in an evening that turned into a celebration of his 21-year international career.

Ronaldo’s message to Messi arrives at a time when the 41-year-old Portugal captain is in a dispute with his national team coach, Jorge Jesus, after leaving the national team camp during the international break.

For his part, Lionel Messi admitted on Wednesday, the day after his farewell match against Benin at River Plate’s Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, that he already misses the Albiceleste jersey. The 39-year-old wrote on his Instagram account: “Yesterday was my last match, and I already miss the Albiceleste jersey,” while affirming that he had made the “right decision.”

Messi played his final match for the national team on Tuesday, leading Argentina to a 3-0 friendly win over Benin with a penalty goal and two key assists. The legendary captain of the Albiceleste added in his emotional post: “It has been an amazing journey, full of joys but also some sorrows,” thanking his family, teammates, and specifically praising his legendary compatriot Diego Armando Maradona, one of the most famous wearers of the number 10 shirt, who died in 2020 at the age of 60. The former Barcelona star continued: “I know he helped us by being here with us and also from heaven.”

Messi, who has won the Ballon d’Or for the world’s best player eight times, announced his international retirement after a glittering career in which he became Argentina’s all-time top scorer (126 goals), top assist provider (70), and most-capped player (208 international matches). During his tenure with Argentina, “La Pulga” (The Flea) won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, finished as runner-up twice (in Brazil 2014 and at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada, and Mexico), and won the Copa América twice in 2021 and 2024, as well as the 2022 Finalissima, a match between the champions of South America and Europe.

At the youth level, the Albiceleste, led by Messi, won the Olympic gold medal in Beijing in 2008 and the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2005.