Following Lionel Messi’s final match with Argentina, his longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo publicly paid tribute to the football icon. Messi, 39, reflected on his international career with Argentina in a detailed social media post on Wednesday, prompting numerous reactions, including one from Ronaldo. The 41-year-old Portuguese star praised Messi’s accomplishments while representing Argentina and his seven Ballon d’Or awards. Ronaldo stated he has immense respect for everything Messi has achieved with the Argentina national team. For years, the two players were rivals at the pinnacle of global football, defining a generation with their competition. However, their rivalry evolved over time into mutual respect, culminating in Ronaldo’s tribute as Messi bids farewell to playing for Argentina after over two decades of service.