Lionel Messi confirms Argentina retirement: His stats compared to Cristiano Ronaldo with Portugal

Lionel Messi, playing for Argentina, and Cristiano Ronaldo, representing Portugal, have been two of the greatest figures in the sport over the past several years.

By Matías Persuh

Updated on August 31, 2026 01:43PM EDT

**© Getty Images**Lionel Messi (L) Cristiano Ronaldo (R).

Lionel Messi confirmed his retirement from the Argentina national team, bringing an end to a career filled with achievements as well as setbacks. Comparisons with Cristiano Ronaldo, one of Portugal’s greatest figures, are inevitable, and here we take a look at how the two careers compare.

	Lionel Messi	Cristiano Ronaldo
Matches played	207	235
Goals	125	146
Assists	68	46
Goal ratio	0.60 per match	0.62 per match
Senior titles	4 (World Cup 2022, Copa America 2021 & 2024, Finalissima 2022)	2 (Euro 2016, UEFA Nations League 2019)
Youth & Olympic titles	2 (U-20 World Cup 2005, Olympic Gold 2008)	0

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These statistics could change, as Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to continue playing for Portugal. Two legends who have given 100% for their countries, and the end of an era that appears to be drawing near.

The reasons behind Messi’s decision

The latest defeat in the 2026 World Cup final against Spain was a major blow for Messi, who was later revealed to have played in the tournament while his father was in poor health. Following Jorge’s passing, the No. 10 felt that it was time to bring his career with La Albiceleste to an end, closing out a career filled with remarkable achievements.

That August 17, 2005, will forever be remembered in history as the date when Lionel Messi made his official debut for the Argentina national team. Twenty-one years later, his legacy will live on forever in the eyes of fans of this sport.

Lionel Messi retires from Argentina: When does his Inter Miami contract expire?

Ronaldo still wants more with Portugal

Although after Portugal’s 2026 World Cup exit Ronaldo said that it would be his final appearance in the tournament, he hasn’t retired from international duty yet. Therefore, CR7 is expected to join his teammates during the next FIFA international break.

It includes six matches, all of them corresponding to the UEFA Nations League. These are the final games the Portuguese national team will play in 2026:

vs Wales, September 24
at Norway, September 27
at Denmark, October 1
vs Norway, October 4
vs Denmark, November 14
at Wales, November 17

Matías Persuh

Matias Persuh is a sports journalist and writer who began his career after graduating with a bachelor's degree in Sports Journalism in 2008. Over the years, he has covered numerous events, including local soccer games, and has conducted interviews with players and coaches. In addition to his writing, Matias has contributed as a columnist on various radio shows. Joining Bolavip US in July 2024 marked a significant step forward in his career, allowing him to continue developing his skills and delivering resonant news about U.S. sports to the audience.