Cristiano Ronaldo has sent Lionel Messi a respectful message after the Argentina star ended his international career following his final appearance against Benin. Ronaldo wrote the message in the comments section of Messi’s Instagram post, praising the history he created with the Argentina national team.
“Today, after many years of defending your country and creating a history that will last forever, you have all my respect for everything you have achieved with Argentina. A hug,” Ronaldo wrote in his message to Messi.
The 39-year-old Messi said farewell to Argentina with a 3-0 victory over Benin at the Monumental Stadium, scoring one goal and providing two assists. The match was his 208th appearance for Argentina, taking his international goal tally to 126.
Ronaldo’s message adds another chapter to the long-standing rivalry between the two superstars, who for more than a decade were among the players who dominated world football. Despite their rivalry, Ronaldo has shown respect for Messi’s legacy, with the Argentine having led his country to the 2022 World Cup as well as the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles.
