On October 6, Lionel Messi closed an important chapter in his life as he played his final game with Argentina’s national team. Many current and former players, including legends like Ronaldinho, shared moving messages honoring his incredible career and his brilliant role with La Albiceleste.
Cristiano Ronaldo was no exception. After the emotional farewell at Estadio Monumental, he also expressed his respect for the man who, for so many years, was considered his biggest rival on the pitch.
© Europa Press via Getty ImagesOn October 7, after his unforgettable night in Buenos Aires, Leo posted an emotional message on social media in which he thanked his family, teammates, clubs, and fans, following up on the heartfelt speech he delivered on the field after the match against Benin.
Friends, colleagues, and fans flooded him with love, but among all the comments, the one that undoubtedly drew the most attention was Cristiano’s.
“Leo, so many years defending your country and a story that will remain forever. All my respect for what you’ve achieved with Argentina. A hug,” wrote the Portuguese star. Cristiano’s comment received over 6 million likes and sparked thousands of replies.
© AFP via Getty ImagesMonths earlier, in August, CR7 had already sent Leo a personal message following the heartbreaking passing of his father, Jorge Messi. After the Argentine great broke his silence about his loss and shared an emotional message on social media, Cristiano reached out with words of support and comfort.
“A huge hug for you and your loved ones in these difficult moments, Leo. Stay strong,” Cristiano wrote in the comments on Leo’s post. That show of solidarity, which earned thousands of likes, didn’t come as a complete surprise, as the Portuguese icon went through the same loss years earlier when his own father, José Dinis Aveiro, passed away in 2005 due to liver failure.
In 2023, during a press conference at Cidade do Futebol in Oeiras, on the outskirts of Lisbon, Cristiano spoke about the rivalry with Messi that has followed them for years. “We shared the stage for 15 years and we ended up being, I won’t say friends, I’ve never had dinner with him (laughs), but we’re colleagues in this profession and we respect each other,” CR7 said. “People who like Cristiano Ronaldo don’t have to hate Messi. We’re both very good, we have changed the history of soccer. We’re respected all over the world, and that’s what matters most,” he added.
© Getty ImagesCristiano Ronaldo talks about his own farewell from the national team
The same day Lionel Messi said goodbye to La Albiceleste, Cristiano Ronaldo shared a long open letter in which he addressed the controversy surrounding his unexpected departure from Portugal’s training camp ahead of their UEFA Nations League match against Denmark. At the end of his statement, “El Bicho” spoke about the moment when he will eventually say goodbye to the Portuguese national team.
© AFP via Getty ImagesCristiano admitted he has heard “a lot of talk about farewell matches, that I should have a proper sendoff and that the Federation wants to give me that opportunity.” “I can promise all my fans, of course, and especially all the Portuguese people, that we will have one or more farewell matches; there will be time for that,” assured the 41-year-old player. “But when I think about the national team, what I really think about is competing,” he added.
“If I’m in good physical shape, playing for my club, hopefully scoring goals, once I have served whatever suspension I receive, I will be available, as I have always been until now, to compete and win with our national team,” Cristiano said, making it clear he’s ready to accept the consequences of his sudden departure from the Portuguese camp days earlier.
The end of a football era
For nearly 20 years, football fans around the world were divided into Team Messi and Team Ronaldo as the rivalry between them evolved into a global phenomenon that shaped modern football, fueled endless discussions, and pushed both superstars to unprecedented heights.
For the next nine seasons, they faced each other regularly in El Clásico, one of the biggest fixtures in world sport. Their battles helped elevate the Barcelona-Real Madrid rivalry to unprecedented global popularity.
© AFP via Getty ImagesTogether they accumulated countless league titles, Champions League trophies, domestic cups, and individual honors. They dominated the Ballon d'Or conversation for more than a decade, turning the award into an annual chapter of their rivalry.
