One is bowing out on his terms, the other is seemingly intent on lasting as long as he possibly can.
The endless debate over who out of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi is the better, is never really going to be answered. That’s because there is no right or wrong answer. Each man has achieved virtually everything there is to achieve and won enough trophies and individual honours to fill an entire house.
But plenty can be discussed about how each of them is choosing to approach what is surely the last knockings of their sparkling careers. Whilst there is no sign of either retiring from club football for the time being (Messi is in the MLS with Inter Miami whilst Ronaldo is in Saudi with Al-Nassr), Messi brought the curtain down on his international career with Argentina with grace and (unsurprisingly) goals this week.
Ronaldo, meanwhile, was front and centre of Portugal’s recent Nations League matches despite not featuring in three of the four matches after walking out on the camp.
First to Messi, who won his 208th and final cap for his country on an emotional night in Buenos Aires. He scored one and assisted two in a 3-0 friendly win over Benin before addressing the crowd with a tear-filled speech that lasted almost 10 minutes.
The superstar spoke of the pride of representing Argentina for so long, with the undoubted highlight their World Cup win in 2022. He said: “I leave grateful, proud and at peace. Thank you for everything.”
That send-off seemed the perfect way for Messi to wave goodbye to international football. He did it on his own terms and was serenaded by all.
In stark contrast, Ronaldo’s approach to representing his country over this last fortnight has been full of statements and dramatic episodes. The latest juncture came on Tuesday evening when he claimed that national head coach, Jorge Jesus, had agreed to make eight points relating to him before “breaking his word” on the matter.
Ronaldo has since claimed that he has no plans to retire from international duty and has apologised for his behaviour, asking the Portuguese Football Federation to punish him and spare him any leniency.
At 41, two years Messi’s senior, Ronaldo is still making it all about him. Many believed that the summer’s World Cup would have been the right time for him to call it a day given the lack of impact he had.
He started all five of his country’s game and despite scoring three times, the overall impression was that his constant inclusion came to the detriment of Portugal’s chances of progressing deep.
Former England man Chris Waddle, during the summer, famously quipped: “He’s waddling around the field like a grandad, that’s why Portugal are out. Cristiano Ronaldo does nothing; he did nothing. What is Roberto Martinez (then manager) doing? How can you pander to a player so much?
“Portugal are out because of Roberto Martinez.”
This latest episode will probably rumble on until the next international break in November.
We might even still be hearing about it by the time the European Championships come around in the summer of 2028, by which time Ronaldo will be 43-years-old.
Just like the debate over who is better – Ronaldo or Messi? – there appears no end in sight.
