On the evening of 6/10, Messi played his final match for Argentina at the Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires. The friendly, titled "The Night That No One Wants to End", kicked off 31 minutes later than scheduled, but the delay only intensified the atmosphere at the stadium.

Lionel Messi waves to fans as he leaves the field after an international friendly match against Benin, his final game for the Argentina national team, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Photo: AP

Argentina secured a 3-0 victory over Benin, and Messi experienced a full range of emotions during his send-off. The 39-year-old forward wept on the team bus en route to the stadium, during warm-ups, while singing the national anthem, throughout the match, and after the final whistle.

Messi's family attended the match. His mother and wife watched from the stands, while his three sons stood beside him during the pre-match ceremony. On the field, Messi made his usual impact for Argentina, scoring one goal from a penalty and assisting the other two.

Following the match, Messi and his teammates witnessed a drone light show over Buenos Aires. These images created an emotional farewell for the player who had worn Argentina's colors for over 21 years.

At the same time Messi prepared for his final national team appearance, Cristiano Ronaldo posted an open letter apologizing to fans and condemning coach Jorge Jesus for breaking a promise to him.

As with much of their careers, the two superstars once again became the focus of the football world, but this time in contrasting ways. Messi moved fans to tears on the field, while Ronaldo sparked controversy due to behind-the-scenes disagreements.

The 41-year-old forward quietly left Portugal's training camp after not playing in their Nations League victory against Norway. Before the match, coach Jorge Jesus stated Ronaldo must accept the possibility of being a substitute. Ronaldo responded with a lengthy 2,000-word statement, published in Portuguese media, explaining his conflict with the coach.

Ronaldo accused Jorge Jesus of breaking a promise to give him approximately 30 minutes of playing time against Norway. He also claimed the Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) consulted him about Jorge Jesus's appointment and informed him of a statement the coach intended to make.

Cristiano Ronaldo appears frustrated after warming up without playing, while Lionel Messi greets the crowd during his national team farewell match. Photo: AP

In his statement, Ronaldo also compared himself to legends Pele and Diego Maradona, but did not mention Messi. He expressed a desire for the FPF to penalize him for leaving the team, admitting that wearing the captain's armband increased his responsibility. "This is the truth about what happened with Jorge Jesus", Ronaldo wrote.

He added that any punishment should not have mitigating circumstances. "I am not an ordinary player. I am the captain, and that makes this an aggravating circumstance", Ronaldo shared.

However, Ronaldo has not yet announced his national team retirement. Coach Jorge Jesus and the FPF remain open to his return. Unlike Messi, Ronaldo has not had an official ceremony to conclude his international career. The 41-year-old superstar may not return as long as Jorge Jesus remains in charge. Portugal has won all 4 matches under the 72-year-old coach, further solidifying his position.

Messi and Ronaldo competed for nearly two decades for the title of the world's best player. About 10 years ago, the balance even tipped towards Ronaldo. In 2016, he led Portugal to victory at Euro on French soil, while Messi continued to face disappointment with Argentina after losing the Copa America final. That same year, Messi briefly announced his retirement from the national team after a final defeat.

However, the balance shifted significantly a few years later. Messi returned to the national team, leading his teammates to win Copa America 2021, ending a 28-year title drought. One year later, Argentina won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. By 2024, Messi and his teammates successfully defended their Copa America title.

These titles completely reshaped Messi's narrative with the national team. The player, once criticized for failing to bring major trophies to Argentina, ultimately left the team as a World Cup champion and two-time Copa America winner.

Messi's role also evolved. Under coach Lionel Scaloni, Argentina no longer required him to carry the entire team. Teammates shared more responsibility, allowing Messi to play based on his enduring high-level qualities.

Ronaldo, conversely, entered the final stage of his career under different circumstances. Portugal still boasts a strong squad, but his role became less defined. After years of being an almost automatic starter, Ronaldo now faces the possibility of being a substitute or not playing at all.

This is the issue Jorge Jesus is attempting to resolve: what should Portugal do when one of history's greatest players is no longer a guaranteed starter? This question has been faced by three coaches: Fernando Santos, Roberto Martinez, and now Jorge Jesus.

A comparison of Messi and Ronaldo's national team careers. Graphic: Xuan Binh (AI support)

Statistically, Ronaldo still slightly edges out Messi in national team goals and appearances. Ronaldo has scored 146 goals in 234 matches for Portugal, while Messi has 126 goals in 206 matches for Argentina. Ronaldo also has a better scoring rate, with one goal every 127 minutes, compared to Messi's 136 minutes.

However, Messi contributed more assists, with 69, bringing his total direct goal involvements to 195. Ronaldo has 45 assists and 191 goal involvements.

Both players participated in six World Cups. Messi scored 21 goals in 34 matches, while Ronaldo scored 11 goals in 27 matches. Messi won the 2022 World Cup and two Copa Americas, while Ronaldo secured Euro 2016 along with two Nations League titles in 2019 and 2025.

These statistics show many similarities in their international careers, but their departures are distinctly different.

Messi bid farewell to Argentina after a night prepared like a festival. Ronaldo left his national team following a disagreement over playing time. Messi cried as he concluded his journey of over two decades. Ronaldo issued a lengthy statement to explain and defend his perspective. Messi appeared at Monumental with an emotional yet composed image, while Ronaldo displayed anger and placed himself at the center of the narrative.

Ronaldo's story may not be over. If he returns for future call-ups, he could still receive a deserving farewell. However, if these truly are Ronaldo's final days in a Portugal jersey, ending his journey with a dispute over playing position will create a contrasting image to Messi's departure.

Xuan Binh compiled