Messi bids farewell with dignity, Ronaldo demands respect
Lionel Messi played his last match for the Argentine national team against Benin, while Cristiano Ronaldo also left the team. Both departures mark the end of an almost twenty‑year era in world football. The scenes took place in Buenos Aires and in the Portuguese training camp, with emotions and controversies dominating the headlines.
Messi's celebratory farewell
On Tuesday, Messi took the field in his 208th international match against Benin in the packed Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. He ended his international career with two assists and a penalty goal, while roughly 85,000 spectators cheered. In the tenth minute, the pitch was paused for a standing ovation, and drones captured Messi lifting the World Cup trophy into the night sky. The 39‑year‑old exceptional player had tears in his eyes, and former teammates flooded social media with congratulations.
Ronaldo and the coach dispute
In the Portuguese training camp, coach Jorge Jesus sent Ronaldo out to warm‑up for a Nations League match against Norway, but did not bring him on. The annoyed world star then demanded a list of eight statements that the coach should deliver at the next press conference, and subsequently posted it on Instagram. It read: “I made a mistake by sending someone of the class of Pelé or Maradona to warm‑up and then not bringing him on.” Jesus did not mention the incident, and Ronaldo left the camp by private jet. The 41‑year‑old striker also said that the Saudi Pro League is qualitatively above the French Ligue 1.
The two departures symbolically represent the different ways of using the big stage: Messi left it with dignity, while Ronaldo seems to be fighting in an ego‑driven power struggle. The ball that Messi always mastered with his left‑foot artistry became a symbol of his quiet greatness, while Ronaldo’s conflict drew attention to the stage itself.
Career start and outlook
Messi joined the FC Barcelona youth academy at the age of 13 and developed into an eight‑time world footballer who was never placed above the team. Ronaldo, on the other hand, celebrated the 2016 European Championship victory, but injured his knee in the final against France and watched the title from the bench.
Ronaldo emphasizes that, despite his criticism, he still firmly believes in his ability to perform, while analysts speculate that he may no longer be part of the Portuguese national team in the future. Messi, on the other hand, announced that he will remain a spectator in the stadium and continue to celebrate the ball.