Ronaldo Pays Tribute To Messi: “You’ve Made History That Will Last Forever”

“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,” Ronaldo wrote in response to Messi’s farewell message on Instagram.

Messi brought his international career to an end on Tuesday as Argentina defeated Benin 3–0 in a friendly at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires.

The 39-year-old scored one of Argentina’s goals and provided two assists in his final appearance for the national team, in front of more than 85,000 supporters.

After the match, Messi reflected on his journey with Argentina, saying he already missed wearing the country’s blue and white colours and believed he was making the right decision to step away from international football.

Messi leaves the national team after 21 years of international football, having made a record 208 appearances and scored 126 goals for Argentina.

His time with the national team also produced some of the biggest achievements of his career, including the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Ronaldo’s message added a notable moment to Messi’s farewell, with the Portuguese forward recognising the lasting impact Messi has made while representing Argentina.

The tribute also highlighted the mutual respect between two players whose names have been closely linked throughout football for many years.