History Forever: Ronaldo Pays Emotional Tribute to Messi After Farewell

Cristiano Ronaldo has paid a heartfelt tribute to Lionel Messi after the Argentina great brought down the curtain on his international career.

Messi made his final appearance for Argentina on Tuesday, October 6, featuring in the Albiceleste’s clash against Benin at the Monumental. The 39-year-old marked the occasion in style, scoring once and providing two assists before saying goodbye to the national team.

After the match, Messi shared an emotional message on Instagram, admitting that he was already missing the Argentina shirt. He described the moment as the right time to step away from international football while expressing gratitude to his family, teammates and everyone who had accompanied him throughout his career.

The Argentine icon also paid tribute to the late Diego Maradona, remembering the football legend’s influence on Argentina’s status as one of the world’s great football nations.

Tributes poured in from players and former stars, but few carried the weight of Ronaldo’s message.

The Portugal captain responded directly to Messi’s Instagram post, praising the legacy his longtime rival has built with Argentina and sending him a warm message.

“Leo, so many years defending your country and a history that will last forever. All my respect for what you have achieved with Argentina. A hug,” Ronaldo wrote.

It was not the first time Ronaldo has publicly reached out to Messi in a moment of personal significance. He had also expressed his condolences and support after Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, died in August.

Ronaldo and Messi: A rivalry that defined an era

For more than a decade, Ronaldo and Messi stood at the centre of football’s biggest individual rivalry.

Their battle for the Ballon d’Or and FIFA’s top individual honours began in the late 2000s, with both players repeatedly competing for the biggest prizes in the sport. The rivalry reached another level when Ronaldo moved to Real Madrid and Messi continued to lead Barcelona, turning El Clasico into the defining club fixture of the era.

Their individual numbers, trophies and records fuelled endless comparisons, but their rivalry was never simply about statistics.

Despite spending years competing for the biggest individual awards and facing each other in some of football’s most important matches, Ronaldo and Messi have consistently acknowledged each other’s greatness.

Their international rivalry was considerably smaller in scale. The two met only twice while representing Portugal and Argentina, with each player winning one of those encounters.

Yet their careers became intertwined in the eyes of football fans around the world.

Now, with Messi’s Argentina journey coming to an end, Ronaldo’s tribute offered a fitting acknowledgement from the player who shared the stage with him for one of the greatest rivalries football has ever seen.