Cristiano Ronaldo Sends Emotional Goodbye Message After Retirement Is Confirmed

According to reports by Fabrizio Romano on October 7, 2026, Cristiano Ronaldo has sent an emotional message to Lionel Messi following the confirmation of the Argentine superstar’s retirement from international football.

Ronaldo reacted to Messi’s farewell through a comment on the Argentine’s Instagram post, paying tribute to his long-time rival after more than two decades of competing against each other at the highest level.

“Leo, so many years defending your country and a story that will live on forever,” Ronaldo wrote. “You have all my respect for everything you’ve achieved with Argentina. A hug.”

The message came after Messi officially brought his Argentina career to an end following his farewell appearance against Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires.

Messi delivered a memorable final performance, scoring once and providing two assists as Argentina secured a 3-0 victory in front of more than 85,000 supporters. The occasion was marked by an emotional reception for the 39-year-old, who had spent more than two decades representing his country.

Messi had already announced his decision to retire from international football after Argentina’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. In his farewell message, he explained that the decision was painful but that he believed the time had come to close the chapter.

The Argentine captain leaves the national team as the country’s record appearance holder and leading goalscorer. He finished his international career with 208 appearances and 126 goals, while also winning the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Copa América.

His relationship with Ronaldo has been one of the defining storylines of modern football. The two stars spent much of their careers competing for major individual honours while playing for Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively, creating one of the sport’s most famous rivalries.

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