Ronaldo pays tribute to Messi after Argentina farewell

Cristiano Ronaldo has paid tribute to Lionel Messi following the Argentine's emotional farewell from international football. Messi played his final match for Argentina on Tuesday night, scoring once and providing two assists in a 3-0 friendly victory over Benin at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires. Widely regarded as one of the greatest players in football history, Messi described the occasion as "the saddest day of my career" after more than two decades representing his country.

Ronaldo's message of respect was reported by various outlets, including Spanish newspaper Marca, which noted a long-standing mutual respect between the two icons. Messi announced his retirement from the Argentina national team in late August, citing the emotional and physical toll of the tournament and his father's illness as factors in his decision.

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