According to TuttoMercatoWeb, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could receive very different farewells when their international careers come to an end.
Messi’s final appearance for Argentina is expected to become a collective celebration of his career, with supporters paying tribute not only to one of the greatest players in the country’s history but also to a footballer who spent years being compared with Diego Maradona.
For many Argentinians, Messi’s achievements with Barcelona were never enough to settle the debate. Despite his trophies, records and exceptional career, he had not won the World Cup. That changed at Qatar 2022, when he led Argentina to the title and finally removed the question of whether he could become a national legend.
Argentina had represented far more than a national team for Messi. It was a source of love and criticism, disappointment and pressure, as well as a personal mission. He even announced his retirement from international football after losing the 2016 Copa America final, before later returning.
Winning the World Cup allowed Messi to move beyond the constant comparison with Maradona. He no longer needed to prove that he belonged among Argentina’s greatest players because he had established his own place in the country’s football history.
His eventual farewell will therefore come as a champion who has achieved what once appeared impossible. After years in which supporters demanded “more”, the message from Argentina is now expected to be one of gratitude.
Ronaldo’s relationship with Portugal is also unique. He is the country’s leading goalscorer and has represented its national team for longer than any other player. During his 18 years as captain, he helped Portugal win the European Championship and the Nations League while breaking numerous international records.
However, TuttoMercatoWeb suggests his departure could be more complicated. In recent seasons, Portugal have appeared to be a platform on which Ronaldo has continued to defend his status, influence and central role in the team.
The ambition and refusal to accept the end of his career helped drive Ronaldo to the top of world football. But the same qualities have also made a generational transition more difficult. Even the greatest players eventually have to accept that the game will continue without them.
Portugal now possess a highly talented generation capable of taking responsibility for the future. Ronaldo’s continued dominance has repeatedly raised the question of how much room a legend should occupy when the next generation is ready to emerge.
The source article says Ronaldo recently closed that door in the face of his team-mates, coach and the Portuguese Football Federation. It adds that, regardless of who was right or wrong, the episode did not reflect his history or the achievements of the still-exceptional 41-year-old.
As a result, Ronaldo’s farewell is unlikely to receive the same scale of celebration as Messi’s. The two players have had irreplaceable careers, but their final chapters may be judged differently. Time considers not only how a champion rises, but also how he leaves.
