Ronaldo’s emotional words after Messi’s first retirement

BUENOS AIRES: Lionel Messi’s latest decision to retire from international football has revived memories of the first time the Argentina great walked away from the national team — and the emotional words of his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi recently confirmed that he will no longer represent Argentina after the team’s defeat to Spain in the latest FIFA World Cup final. The loss brought an end to his latest title campaign, with Messi later making it clear that he would not wear the Argentina shirt again.

But this was not Messi’s first international retirement announcement.

The 39-year-old had stunned the football world in 2016, when he announced his retirement after Argentina lost the Copa América final to Chile on penalties. Messi missed his penalty in the shootout, and the defeat marked another painful setback for a player desperate to win a major international trophy with his country.

At the time, Ronaldo urged fans to understand what Messi was going through rather than criticize him for the decision.

“Messi has made a difficult decision and people should understand it,” Ronaldo said, according to reports from the period.

The Portuguese superstar also defended Messi against criticism over his missed penalty, stressing that a single failure did not make him a bad player.

Ronaldo understood the frustration of a competitor who hated losing and struggled even with finishing second. He reportedly said that seeing Messi in tears was painful and expressed hope that the Argentine would return to international football because Argentina needed him.

Messi Returned — And Made History

Ronaldo’s hope eventually became reality.

Messi reversed his 2016 decision and returned to Argentina duty. What followed became one of the greatest chapters of his career.

He helped Argentina win the 2021 Copa América, followed by the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He also added another Copa América title in 2024, finally establishing himself as a champion at the highest level with his national team.

The contrast makes his latest retirement particularly significant. In 2016, Messi was only 29 and had plenty of football ahead of him. This time, after years of international success and another World Cup final, a return appears far less likely.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo has yet to make a final decision about his own international future.

For football fans, the story has come full circle: a rivalry that once produced fierce competition also revealed a rare moment of respect, with Ronaldo publicly acknowledging the emotional burden carried by Messi.

Messi’s latest farewell therefore feels different — not simply because of his age, but because the Argentine legend has already achieved what once seemed impossible.