Cristiano Ronaldo pays tribute to Lionel Messi after Argentina farewell

Cristiano Ronaldo publicly paid tribute to Lionel Messi following the Argentine star's farewell from international football, writing 'I have the utmost respect for what you've accomplished with Argentina' in response to Messi's social media post. Messi made his emotional farewell appearance during Argentina's friendly match against Benin in Buenos Aires on Tuesday, 7 October 2026. The two rivals, who have dominated football for over 15 years and shared 13 Ballon d'Or awards between them, marked the end of an era with Ronaldo's heartfelt message.