Cristiano Ronaldo Honors Lionel Messi's National Team Legacy

Lionel Messi's final game for the Argentinian national team resonated even with his longtime rival.

Cristiano Ronaldo responded to Messi's farewell post after his last international match, showing immense respect for his former arch-nemesis in the debate for the world's best player.

'Leo, you defended your country for so many years and wrote a story that will forever be remembered. All my respect for what you achieved with Argentina. A hug,' wrote CR7 beneath a photo of Messi on Instagram, where he had bid farewell to the Albiceleste fans.

While Messi received a fitting and highly emotional farewell in Buenos Aires against Benin on Tuesday, even scoring a penalty in his final match, Ronaldo faces a potential national team exit of a far more negative kind.

Cristiano Ronaldo faces a nightmare farewell from the Portuguese national team

The Portuguese icon clashed with new coach Jorge Jesus, leaving prematurely and without comment, accusing the coach of 'breaching his word' in several instances. He also revealed he had planned to end his national team career after the World Cup but was persuaded otherwise by the Football Federation president. He had even prepared a farewell letter. Now, a somber exit through the back door looms.

Meanwhile, Messi played his 208th and final international match against Benin. After years of near misses, Messi's late career with the Albiceleste was remarkably successful. In 2021, he finally secured his first national team title at the Copa America, having previously lost a World Cup final (2014) and three Copa finals (2007, 2015, 2016) with Argentina.

The ultimate crowning moment for Messi came at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, followed by successfully defending the 2021 Copa title. After the World Cup final loss last summer, Messi announced the end of his international career.

Ronaldo, too, can point to a major national team achievement: in 2016, he surprisingly won the European Championship with Portugal, followed by victories in the Nations League in 2019 and 2025.

Both players are, naturally, their country's record goalscorers. Messi has 126 goals in 208 games, while CR7 has 146 goals in 234 matches.