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Cristiano Ronaldo praises Lionel Messi after his final match for Argentina

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Oct 8, 2026, 4:04 AM

Last updated Oct 8, 2026

Cristiano Ronaldo praises Lionel Messi after his final match for Argentina

Summary

Cristiano Ronaldo commented on Lionel Messi's Instagram following Messi's last game for Argentina, a 3-0 victory over Benin on October 6. In a show of respect, Ronaldo acknowledged Messi's long international career and achievements in the post. The football community reacted positively to the gesture, highlighting the longstanding rivalry and mutual respect between the two legends. Messi concludes his international career after 21 years, while Ronaldo remains in contention with the Portuguese national team amid ongoing issues with its management.

Source Links

Yahoo Sports

Status Watch

•Messi played his final match for Argentina on October 6.
•Ronaldo commented on Messi's Instagram post with a message of respect.
•Messi scored once and assisted twice in his last game.
•Ronaldo is currently addressing issues with the Portuguese national team.
•Reactions to Ronaldo's message reflect fans' views on their rivalry.

Latest Updates

4:04 AMYahoo Sports — ‘Beautiful’ – Cristiano Ronaldo turns heads with message to Lionel Messi after Argentina retirement

What they're saying

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Cristiano Ronaldo commented on Lionel Messi’s Instagram after the 39-year-old played his final match for Argentina. Messi scored once and got two assists in a 3-0 win over Benin on October 6, the final international game of his career.
— Yahoo Sports

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