Ronaldo hails Messi after emotional Argentina farewell

Summary

• Cristiano Ronaldo has put one of football’s most famous rivalries aside to pay tribute to Lionel Messi after the Argentina captain announced his retirement from international football following an emotional farewell in Buenos Aires.
• While Messi celebrated his international farewell, Ronaldo’s own future with Portugal has also attracted attention.
• For Messi, however, the focus now shifts away from Argentina’s famous blue and white shirt, leaving behind a legacy defined by trophies, records and a World Cup triumph that completed one of football’s most celebrated careers.

AI Generated Summary

Cristiano Ronaldo has put one of football’s most famous rivalries aside to pay tribute to Lionel Messi after the Argentina captain announced his retirement from international football following an emotional farewell in Buenos Aires.

Messi, 39, produced a memorable final performance for Argentina on Tuesday, scoring once and setting up two goals as the world champions defeated Benin 3-0 in a friendly at the Monumental Stadium.

More than 85,000 supporters watched as Messi brought the curtain down on a remarkable 21-year international career. His farewell appearance turned into a celebration of his enduring influence on Argentine football and his achievements with the national team.