Cristiano Ronaldo expressed his respect for longtime rival Lionel Messi after the Argentine star brought his international career to a close.
Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, of Al Nassr, expressed his respect for longtime rival Lionel Messi, 39, of Inter Miami, who has shared the global soccer spotlight with him for many years.
On the 8th, Ronaldo commented on a lengthy “retirement letter” Messi posted on social media, writing, “Messi played for his country for many years and created a history that will live forever. I send him a warm embrace filled with respect for everything he accomplished in Argentina.”
Messi retired from the Argentina national team after the international friendly against Benin on the 7th.
Making his senior international debut in a friendly against Hungary in August 2005, Messi became a legend of Argentine soccer with 126 goals in 208 appearances.
After his farewell match, Messi, who shed tears, posted on social media, “I already miss the days of wearing the Argentina jersey as if they happened just yesterday,” adding, “There were moments of joy and sadness, but every moment of my journey wearing the Argentina jersey was worth it.”
Ronaldo and Messi were longtime rivals who shared the world soccer spotlight for years. Their fierce competition became so prominent that the term “Messi-Ronaldo” was coined to describe them.
Although Ronaldo never hid his competitive spirit toward Messi during their playing careers, he paid tribute to his retirement from international soccer, marking the final chapter of their longtime rivalry with a message of respect.
Meanwhile, unlike Messi, who has brought his international career to an end, Ronaldo continues to play for the Portugal national team.
However, Ronaldo has recently been embroiled in controversy after reportedly leaving the national team training camp without permission ahead of an international match amid a dispute with the coach
