‘It Hurts To See Messi In Tears’: Biggest Rival Ronaldo’s Powerful Message After Messi Quit
Lionel Messi’s first international retirement in 2016 shocked the football world after Argentina’s Copa America heartbreak. Even his biggest rival Cristiano Ronaldo supported Messi, saying fans should understand his emotions and hoping he would return. Years later, Messi came back to achieve historic success, including Copa America titles and the FIFA World Cup triumph.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo — two football legends whose rivalry turned into mutual respect after Messi’s emotional 2016 international retirement announcement (Img: Pinterest)
New Delhi: Lionel Messi’s decision to step away from international football has once again left fans emotional. However, this is not the first time the Argentine superstar has announced his retirement from the national team.
The first retirement announcement came in 2016 after Argentina suffered a heartbreaking defeat against Chile in the Copa America final. The loss became even more painful for Messi after he missed a penalty during the shootout, leaving him devastated.
At only 29 years old, Messi announced that he would no longer represent Argentina, a decision that shocked millions of football fans around the world.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Emotional Message For His Biggest Rival
Even though Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have shared one of football’s greatest rivalries, Ronaldo showed support for Messi during his toughest moment.
Reacting to Messi’s retirement decision in 2016, Ronaldo said people should understand the emotions behind such a difficult choice.
“Messi has taken a tough decision, and people should understand,” Ronaldo had said.
The Portuguese star also defended Messi against criticism after the missed penalty in the Copa America final.
“Missing a penalty does not make you a bad player,” Ronaldo said, reminding fans that even the greatest players experience painful failures.
‘It Hurts To See Messi In Tears’: Ronaldo Stood By Messi
Ronaldo admitted that watching Messi suffer after another international final defeat was difficult.
“It hurts to see Messi in tears, and I hope he returns to his country, because he needs it,” Ronaldo said.
Despite their rivalry for football’s biggest individual honours, Ronaldo understood the pressure and disappointment Messi was facing with Argentina.
Messi Returned And Completed Football’s Greatest Dream
Ronaldo’s hope eventually became reality as Messi returned to international football.
The comeback changed the course of his career. Messi guided Argentina to Copa America glory in 2021 and 2024 before achieving the ultimate dream — winning the FIFA World Cup in 2022.
The World Cup triumph transformed Messi’s international legacy and ended years of criticism over his inability to win a major trophy with Argentina.
Messi’s Argentina Journey: From Heartbreak To Glory
From the tears of the 2016 Copa America final to lifting the World Cup trophy in 2022, Messi’s international career has been one of the most emotional stories in football history.
While fans are hoping for another comeback, his latest retirement marks the end of an unforgettable chapter — one filled with pain, perseverance, and historic success.
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