Messi’s last dance, Ronaldo’s unfinished goodbye: two legends, two farewells.

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo — these two names have been inseparable in football conversations for over a decade. The two footballers dominated the world’s football scene, scoring countless goals and winning numerous accolades.

Their footballing legacies on the international stage are coming to an end. It should be noted that Messi managed to say goodbye to the world, but Ronaldo has not retired from the international scene, so he can return.

Both players’ goodbyes, circumstances, and the fact that one managed to retire while the other did not are worth discussing.

Messi was able to say goodbye

Messi played his last match in Estadio Monumental on 6 October in a friendly game against Benin. More than 85000 fans showed up to see the star striker pay off his last duty to the national team.

It was all planned after Messi announced his retirement from the international scene in August. The Argentine Football Association called the player a “national icon” and believed that he should say goodbye in front of his home fans.

All the preparations were made for the “Last Dance”, as the player called it. It was Messi’s last match ever in the national team, so the expectations were high.

He managed to score a penalty and set up two other goals in the 3-0 win over Benin. It was his 208th appearance and 126th goal for Argentina. Despite the game’s results, the Monumental Stadium was the place where the footballing legend said farewell to the national team.

His achievements, family, and the fans received a standing ovation from the fans. Additionally, Messi gave a heartfelt speech, putting the emotional farewell to a close end. The large Argentina shirt, with the word “Gracias” and his iconic number 10 was also a part of the final act. It was not only another match for the Argentine national team, but the end of an era.

He was not always a hero for Argentina

That is why this farewell is so special, because it was not always the case for Messi. The player was always under a lot of pressure to deliver for Argentina.

He led Argentina to the 2014 World Cup final, but they lost to Germany. The same happened in the 2015 and 2016 Copa America finals.

Moreover, Messi announced his international retirement after the 2016 Copa America final. The criticism of the player only grew when they failed to qualify for the 2018 World Cup. However, the situation improved when Messi’s success changed the narrative. The player won his first international trophy with Argentina in the 2021 Copa America. The Finalissima took place in 2022, with Messi leading Argentina to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

They went on to win the 2024 Copa America, but lost the 2026 World Cup final to Spain. Everything was set for Messi to say goodbye to the international scene at the Monumental, where the atmosphere was electrifying.

It is difficult to imagine that the same Messi was once criticized for not living up to the expectations.

Ronaldo’s situation is different

The main difference is that the player has not retired from the international scene.

Ronaldo is Portugal’s all-time top scorer with 146 goals in 234 matches.

He also has a European Championship, two Nations Leagues in 2019 and 2025, among other honors. Nevertheless, the forward finds himself in a different situation at the moment.

Ronaldo was involved in a dispute with the head coach of Portugal, Jorge Jesus, after he was left out of the squad for the friendlies against Norway and Denmark.

The forward left the camp after being told that he would not start against Norway and was not substituted for the match against Denmark. Ronaldo gave an extensive statement about the entire situation.

The player claimed that Jorge Jesus agreed to leave him out of the friendlies to let him rest and prepare for the European qualifiers. He added that the coach told him that he would be able to play for 30 minutes against Norway, but he did not get the chance. Ronaldo stated that he and Jorge Jesus had agreed to make certain things public, but the coach does not recognize that agreement.

It should be noted that Jorge Jesus denies these allegations. The forward was the one who released the statement, while the coach also responded and said that the captain’s version of the events was false.

As expected, Ronaldo apologized for leaving the camp without saying goodbye to the fans in Norway.

Most importantly, he pointed out that he would continue to represent Portugal if he were to be fit, play well for his club, and serve his suspension. Portugal have left the door open for Ronaldo for the time being.

One farewell was certain. The other remains unresolved.

It is this detail that makes the most difference. Messi was able to plan his farewell to football fans, while Ronaldo’s situation with the national team remains uncertain.

It should be noted that Messi’s last match for Argentina was a friendly game, in which he scored a goal in the 3-0 victory over Benin.

It is also worth noting that, for the time being at least, Ronaldo has not indicated that his next match for Portugal will be his last. It is therefore wrong to say that Portugal has refused to give him a farewell, as the situation is far from being settled.

It will be interesting to follow the further developments, as Ronaldo may well appear for Portugal again. So while Messi’s farewell was an end, Ronaldo’s next match will be more of a look to the future.

Two incredible international legends

The differences between Messi’s and Ronaldo’s goodbyes to their national teams speak for themselves.

Messi made 208 appearances and scored 126 goals for Argentina before retiring. Ronaldo, on the other hand, still plays for Portugal and has scored 146 goals in 234 matches. The latter currently holds the world record for international appearances and goals, with Messi in second place.

It should also be noted that the two forwards have vastly different achievements.

Messi lifted the Copa America, the Finalissima, the World Cup, and the Copa America again with Argentina. Ronaldo has won the European Championship and the Nations League twice with Portugal.

Nevertheless, both footballers have extensive achievements in terms of international competitions and have left their mark on the history of their countries’ football.

Why the two farewells are so different

It is difficult to say that fans of one of the footballers care more about their idol than the fans of the other. It is most likely that the difference lies in the fact that Messi wanted to retire, while Ronaldo did not.

That is why the circumstances of their farewell were so different. Messi’s last match for Argentina was a farewell to the fans and a celebration of his 21-year footballing journey with the national team.

It is unclear whether Ronaldo’s next appearance for Portugal will be his last, as he finds himself in a dispute with his coach. The forward left the camp, but he still wants to play for his country.

Portugal’s football fans have a chance to see if Ronaldo will continue to represent his country and if they will have a farewell similar to the one in Buenos Aires.

The rivalry comes to a close

For a long time, the rivalry between the two footballers has been fierce. They were often rivals, with their domestic and international statistics being compared to each other.

It seems that it is coming to an end, since the two superstars find themselves at completely different stages of their careers.

While Ronaldo still has a few years left, Messi has moved on. It should be noted that the rivalries between the two forwards are not being decided by the circumstances of their farewells.

Even though they were both international icons, Messi was able to deliver an incredible performance that saw him score and assist for two of Argentina’s goals.

It remains to be seen if Ronaldo will have a similar farewell, since it is entirely possible given the circumstances. The Portuguese forward has spent the majority of his career playing in front of thousands of fans.

It may well be that he will leave the national team in the same way as Messi, but that remains to be seen. Ronaldo has the opportunity to make history once again.

The two forwards each have their own unique way of saying goodbye to the international stage.