Ronaldo’s announcement comes just weeks after long-time rival Lionel Messi stepped away from Argentina, finishing with 126 goals in 207 caps after netting his final international goal against Benin in a Buenos Aires sendoff.

Rumors regarding Ronaldo’s international future had intensified after he walked away from Portugal’s training camp following a disagreement over tactical decisions by manager Jorge Jesus. His announcement puts any lingering doubt to rest: going forward, supporters will only see the 41-year-old taking the pitch at the club level with Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr.

“Today, the time has come to pass the torch,” Ronaldo said in an emotional video address detailing his decision. “It was not an easy choice, because certain decisions aren’t made with the mind alone, they are made with the heart.”

Cristiano’s message to Portuguese supporters

Beyond announcing his departure, Ronaldo shared a heartfelt tribute to the Portuguese fans who rallied behind him throughout a 23-year international tenure, emphasizing the lasting mark they left on his career.

“And to the people of Portugal, wherever you are in the world, there is an image I will carry with me forever: the moment our national anthem begins,” Ronaldo said. “I look around and see my teammates, the stands, and Portuguese supporters who traveled so far just to be there. For those few minutes, all our differences disappear; there are no clubs, colors, classes, professions, or opinions, only one passion: Portugal.”

Cristiano Ronaldo’s international records with Portugal

Ronaldo leaves the international arena having fundamentally rewritten the sport’s record books. Over 23 years wearing the red and green, he shattered virtually every major scoring and appearance milestone available on the global stage.

• Most men’s international goals: 146 goals, holding the world record ahead of Lionel Messi (126) and Ali Daei (108).
• Most men’s international caps: 234 appearances across a historic 23-year career.
• Most men’s international hat-tricks: 10 hat-tricks for Portugal.
• Oldest Portugal goalscorer and player: Set both benchmarks at over 41 years of age.
• Youngest portuguese centurion: Youngest player in national team history to earn 100 caps (27 years, 8 months, 11 days).

Will there be a farewell match for Cristiano Ronaldo?

With earlier reports suggesting Ronaldo could suit up during November’s international break, anticipation is building over whether the Portuguese Football Federation will arrange an official farewell appearance during the upcoming UEFA Nations League window.

Portugal announced on a statement that there will be a farewell game for Cristiano: “It is our firm and immense desire to organize, plan, participate, and actively collaborate in what will always be a fitting tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo‘s immense career, in which fans and the country can applaud and celebrate, once again, the player who has given us so much.”

Portugal‘s next fixture is scheduled for Nov. 14 against Denmark in Lisbon, a match that could serve as the ultimate curtain call for the nation’s greatest sporting icon.

Key takeaways

• Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from international soccer with Portugal.
• Lionel Messi retired from Argentina after scoring 126 goals in 207 caps.
• Cristiano Ronaldo holds the record of 146 goals across 234 international appearances.

The next international window will be in November, and the ‘Albiceleste’ has defined which opponents they’ll face. On November 13, Argentina will face Uruguay in Buenos Aires, and then they’ll face Costa Rica in Cordoba, on November 17.

These are two very different teams, though they share a particularity. Both are coming into these games with relatively brand-new coaches that are also former legendary players. For Uruguay, it’s the mythical Diego Forlan, while for Costa Rica, is the always-classy Bryan Ruiz.

Who are the new names to monitor in Argentina?

After Lionel Messi‘s farewell, all eyes will be in Nico Paz, who is the natural replacement. During Messi’s last game, he actually assisted Paz who scored a great goal. Paz has shown he is capable of taking the torch that Messi left.

During the last window, coach Lionel Scaloni also gave opportunities to guys like Exequiel Palacios, Franco Mastantuono, Leonel Flores, and Agustin Giay. Hence, the generational change is already in place.

Argentina is clearly the favorite to win both games

Argentina is a top-tier team even without Messi. The talent on the roster is pretty much unmatched. Meanwhile, Uruguay is just starting a new process and this generation is nowhere near an elite one.

As for Costa Rica, it didn’t even attend the 2026 World Cup, prompting a change. However, the manager Bryan Ruiz has just coached four games in his life. Still, he’s won all four games, scoring 13 goals and allowing just one goal.

Key takeaways

• Lionel Messi retired from Argentina, making way for the team’s newer generation of players.
• Argentina will play Uruguay on November 13 and face Costa Rica on November 17.
• Nico Paz scored off an assist from Lionel Messi during Messi’s final international game.

“Leo, all these years playing for your country form a story that will last forever. Nothing but respect for everything you’ve achieved with Argentina. Big hug,” Ronaldo commented under Messi’s post, which featured photos from his farewell appearance against Benin.

Beyond the staggering goal counts both superstars accumulated for Argentina and Portugal, the classy gesture highlighted the deep mutual respect between two icons whose unprecedented rivalry defined an era of world football.

Messi departs as the most decorated player in Argentine history, leaving behind a mountain of records and an unmatched legacy. Fittingly, he closed his international career in dramatic fashion, converting a late penalty kick at El Monumental in Buenos Aires to send the hometown crowd into euphoria one final time.

Cristiano’s future with Portugal still in limbo

While Messi enjoyed a celebrated send-off, Ronaldo’s international future remains uncertain. The Portuguese star recently attempted to quell retirement rumors after issuing a public apology for abruptly departing national team camp during the international break.

Though debate will endlessly persist over who boasts the greater international resume, both players leave an indelible mark on the global game, having transformed their respective national programs while delivering major continental trophies and world titles.

What’s next for Messi and Ronaldo?

On one hand, Messi will continue his club career with Inter Miami for the remainder of the 2026 MLS campaign and through his current contract, which runs through 2028.

Ronaldo, meanwhile, is expected to return to Portugal’s squad for the upcoming UEFA Nations League fixtures while continuing his club campaign with Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia as he pursues his historic push toward 1,000 career goals.

Key takeaways

• Cristiano Ronaldo publicly honored Messi’s legacy in a classy Instagram comment.
• Messi converted a late penalty kick in his farewell match against Benin.
• Lionel Messi officially retired from Argentina on October 6, 2026, after 20 years.

Messi finished with 126 international goals for Argentina, capped off with a goal against Benin. He is the team’s top scorer by a mile. Messi played for more than 20 years with the ‘Albiceleste‘. Messi‘s legacy is untouched.

As for Cristiano Ronaldo, he has scored 146 international goals for Portugal. Ronaldo is notoriously the player with the most goals in international soccer of all time. Even with Messi’s stratospheric numbers for Argentina, the Portuguese is ahead. Given how he hasn’t retired from the international scene, he can still add to his tally.

Messi and Ronaldo’s goals in depth

Not only are the quantity of goals other-worldly, but the averages too. That is arguably more impressive. When looking at a ‘per-game perspective‘, there is not an argument that these two are the best ever at the international soccer scene.

Argentina and Portugal are set for future success

While Argentina will have to do without Messi, whose age by the 2030 World Cup indicates he might not even be playing, the bases are very strong. Argentina has some good foundations to keep competing for all titles.

Portugal has Cristiano Ronaldo still as he ended his international retirement, but thinking he’ll be playing all the way to the next World Cup is a stretch. Still, the new generation and talent will be there ready to defy the odds once again.

More than 80.000 fans in attendance were near tears as Messi spoke candidly about what it means to represent Argentina at the maximum level. “Not coming here anymore and no longer being with the Argentina National Team is going to hurt a lot. If it were up to me, I would love to be here for my entire life, because playing for Argentina is the most beautiful thing there is.“

However, then Messi explained that the last World Cup took a heavy toll on him. “I think the time has come for me to retire. The last World Cup took a lot out of us after everything we went through. We arrived in the final with just enough left in us, but we fought until the very end, like we always did,” Messi said.

Messi leaves an incredible legacy behind, and a sense of pride for the Argentina shirt

“In 2022, we had the dream of fulfilling not only my dream, but the dream of an entire country: becoming world champions again. And we did it. “We won the World Cup, the Copa América, the Finalissima… I’m incredibly grateful for everything I experienced with this National Team,” Messi stated with immense pride. The standard was at an all-time high and he delivered.

“Every time we stepped onto the pitch, I knew we could compete against anyone because I had warriors beside me who were willing to leave absolutely everything out there. To achieve the biggest things, you need a strong group.” Messi commanded the new generation to stay close to each other, to be united, and fight for a common goal.

Messi trusts in Argentina’s successors

“I’m going to miss all of you so much, but I’ll always be on your side. I’ll be supporting these boys and everyone who comes after them,” Messi said. It was a tear-jerker moment at the highest of levels.

Now, it’s time for those who are next to live up to Messi’s expectations. Messi’s tally of goals and assists with Argentina is unprecedented. Messi left a full winning heritage on the Argentina national team, and now it’s up to the newer generation to keep fighting for silverware.

In 208 games for the ‘Albiceleste‘, Messi has scored 126 times and assisted 70 times for Argentina. Hence, Messi has contributed to 196 goals in 208 games, which is incredible.

Messi is undoubtedly the record-holder for the most goals in the Argentine national team. However, he also leads Argentina in the assists regard. He surpassed legends like Gabriel Batistuta, Diego Maradona, and Mario Kempes in all regards. There is a clear before and after Messi with his impact on Argentina.

Messi had a tough path to glory

Messi’s success with Argentina is one to admire. He lost the first four finals he played with the ‘Albiceleste‘ and then ended up with plenty of titles with Argentina.

He ended being the most decisive player in Argentina’s storied history. Messi overcame plenty of obstacles and got his glory either way. Hence, it’s not a fairy tale, but a resiliency story.

Messi’s goals and stats with Argentina by competition

• International Friendlies: 55 Goals
• FIFA World Cup Qualification: 36 Goals
• FIFA World Cup: 21 Goals
• Copa América: 14 Goals

Key takeaways

• Lionel Messi recorded 126 goals and 70 assists in 208 games for Argentina.
• Messi holds the national records for most goals and most assists for Argentina.
• The forward scored 54 goals in friendlies and 36 in World Cup qualifiers.

Messi scored a penalty in this game. At minute 68, there was a foul inside Benin’s box. Naturally, Messi stepped in and slotted the ball in the higher side of the net, tricking Benin’s goalkeeper, who warned Messi that he’ll had to do everything to score, the other way.

Messi, who had already assisted twice to Nicolas Otamendi and Nico Paz, capped off an incredible outing with a goal of his own. It’s a golden checkmark to finish his international career. Messi’s final tally of goals and assists with Argentina after farewell match is incredible.

A penalty was also a redemption of sorts for Messi

During the last World Cup, Messi set an infamous tournament record. He became the player with most penalties taken, but also the player with most penalty misses. Hence, scoring a penalty now gives No.10 a sort of redemption.

Messi played the full game and was involved in all three of Argentina goals. That is a testament to how good he is, and how crucial he became for the Argentine national team. Now, they’ll have to do without him.

List of Argentina’s top scorers with Messi leading the pack

The star from Rosario will wear a special jersey for the match, with Adidas revealing details and images of the exclusive collection, which is already on sale. Additionally, the official account of the Argentina national team posted a photo from the locker room showing the captain’s armband: it will be red and black, a nod to Newell’s, his childhood club.

The design features three wide stripes—two light blue and one white—with black collar and sleeve trim, while the numbers on the front and back and the surname appear in gold. The Sol de Mayo, a symbol of the Argentine flag, also appears on the back. The Rosario star—emblem of the Albiceleste at the last World Cup—decided to retire from the national team following a historic 21-year run after marking a before-and-after in his country.

Messi’s grand farewell

The jersey was presented by Messi himself weeks ago on his official Instagram account with a video accompanied by an emotional message: “Last match… A jersey for a lifetime.” In the footage, he is seen placing a pair of boots on an armchair before swapping his 2026 World Cup Argentina shirt on a hanger for the new model. The kit was subsequently showcased by the AFA as well.

The apparel is just one of many special features prepared for the occasion. The organizers recently announced the event’s lineup, confirming performances by Roman, El Original; Amar Azul, Q Lokura, Un Poco de Ruido; Damas Gratis, La Sole, and Ulises Bueno, among others. Fireworks and drone shows are also scheduled.

Against the African side, Leo will play his 208th match for Argentina as he looks to add to his 125 goals—an ideal scenario to build on his standing as the all-time leading scorer.

However, the most significant achievements remain the collective titles he won: the 2022 World Cup, the 2021 and 2025 Copa America titles, and the 2022 Finalissima. He was also a runner-up at the 2014 and 2026 World Cups, as well as the 2007, 2015, and 2016 continental tournaments, in addition to winning Olympic gold at Beijing 2008 and the Sub-20 World Cup in 2005.

Key takeaways

• Benin serves as the opponent for Lionel Messi’s international farewell match.
• A red and black captain’s armband honors his childhood club, Newell’s.
• His 208th match for Argentina will mark his final appearance.

Messi retires as Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer, boasting 125 goals against 45 different national teams across five confederations. His tally stretches from his first goal against Croatia in March 2006 to his most recent against Egypt in the round of 16 at the 2026 World Cup. Benin, Tuesday’s opponent at the Monumental, represent a final opportunity to expand that list—if he scores, the African side will become his 46th victim.

Of those 45 teams, the ones that conceded the most goals to Messi are led by Bolivia with 11, followed by Ecuador and Venezuela with seven each, and Uruguay with six. That concentration makes sense given that they belong to CONMEBOL and share World Cup Qualifiers, Copa America tournaments, and friendly matches.

Bolivia tops list of 45 opponents

No country has conceded more goals to Messi than Bolivia. They have surrendered 11 goals, accounting for nearly 9% of his entire international total. Furthermore, Bolivia are the only opponent against whom he reached double digits.

The South American concentration is logical given Argentina’s schedule: 52 of his 125 goals, or 41.6%, came against CONMEBOL teams—Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Uruguay, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay, Colombia, and Peru. The non-CONMEBOL teams that have conceded the most goals to Messi are Estonia (all in a single match), Algeria, and Guatemala.

Messi scored against all five Confederations he faced

While CONMEBOL dominates in total goals, UEFA provided the widest variety of opponents. Messi scored 26 times against 14 different European national teams. Against CONCACAF, he scored 27 goals against 10 countries, while African sides conceded 12 goals across six representatives, and Asian teams yielded eight goals across six opponents. The only confederation absent from the list is Oceania, as he never faced a team from that region.

Of all his international goals, some are undeniably more memorable than others. One with the deepest meaning is the one that started it all: Croatia were the first country added to the list. On March 1, 2006, in his sixth match with the senior national team, he scored his first international goal in a 3-2 defeat for Argentina.

Three months later came Serbia and Montenegro. Messi came off the bench at the 2006 World Cup and scored the final goal in a 6-0 victory at 18 years and 357 days old, becoming the youngest Argentine goalscorer in World Cup history.

Key takeaways

• 125 goals were scored by Lionel Messi across 45 different national teams.
• 11 goals were conceded by Bolivia to top all international opponents.
• 26 goals were scored across 14 European national teams.

Alongside his farewell, Messi leaves behind a massive legacy tied to the No. 10 jersey, leaving fans to question what will happen next. At the moment, there is no official announcement regarding the retirement of the number, meaning a successor will likely wear it.

Among the most discussed candidates, the primary player poised to wear the No. 10 shirt after Leo Messi is Nico Paz. The Como player competed in the 2026 World Cup wearing No. 18 and, as he uses the number at his club, stands as a top candidate to take the baton—especially with Lionel Scaloni having already demonstrated trust in him.

Nico Paz is the favorite to inherit the No. 10

The sheer weight of the shirt makes Nico a natural candidate, given Scaloni’s high regard for him, though he faces competition from other players who could also wear it based on ability and history with Argentina. The situation mirrors what happened with Angel Di Maria’s No. 11 jersey, which was passed to Giovani Lo Celso regardless of other players wearing it when Gio was absent.

If precedent serves as an indication, two other candidates were linked to the No. 10 in the same match. Thiago Almada, a World Cup champion in Qatar and starter at the beginning of the 2026 World Cup, was assigned to wear the emblematic shirt for the visit to Ecuador on September 9, 2025, to close out World Cup qualifying. However, muscle discomfort led Scaloni to alter his plans and hand the heavy shirt to Franco Mastantuono instead.

Thiago Almada and Mastantuono as options?

Almada, who began finding the regular playing time at River that he had not fully secured at Atletico Madrid, remains another option. Mastantuono’s situation appears more complicated due to his current status at Fiorentina, where he is on loan and gradually regaining his form following a difficult first year at Real Madrid.

For now, nothing is confirmed beyond speculation, but the future of the jersey will be closely monitored due to the weight of the number. Beyond Messi‘s legacy—which is vast enough on its own to justify retiring the shirt—it is a historic number previously worn by legendary figures like Diego Maradona and Mario Kempes, all World Cup champions.

Key takeaways

• Benin serves as the opponent for Lionel Messi’s final game with Argentina.
• Nico Paz is considered the primary candidate to inherit the No. 10 jersey.
• September 9, 2025 saw Franco Mastantuono assigned the iconic number against Ecuador.

While Messi’s impact transformed Argentina into a modern trophy factory, Ronaldo reshaped the narrative around Portugal, establishing the country as a perennial contender across European and international competitions.

As both superstars enter the final chapters of their storied careers, evaluating their respective international legacies offers a clear view into their unprecedented impact on the global game, as Messi is set to play his farewell matchup with Argentina against Benin.

Messi and Ronaldo: Divergent paths to international glory

Ronaldo made his senior international debut for Portugal in 2003 against Kazakhstan, followed by Messi’s Argentina debut two years later in 2005 against Hungary in Budapest. Since then, both icons have become their countries’ all-time leading goalscorers and the focal points of golden generations that ended decades-long trophy droughts.

Here is how their head-to-head international statistics stack up:

In terms of silverware, Messi edges out Ronaldo on the international stage, though both successfully snapped long-standing continental trophy droughts that had haunted their national teams for generations.

Tournament performance and world records

Both players have defined a generation through unmatched consistency and big-game production. Their numbers in flagship international tournaments underscore their historical dominance on the world stage.

At the FIFA World Cup, Messi has registered 26 appearances, 13 goals, and 8 assists, earning the Golden Ball in 2014 before leading Argentina to the title in 2022 (where he won a second Golden Ball). Ronaldo, meanwhile, holds 22 appearances, 8 goals, and 2 assists, making history as the first player to score in five different World Cup tournaments.

Their dominance extends to continental play as well. In the Copa America, Messi has tallied 39 appearances, 14 goals, and 18 assists while lifting two titles (2021, 2024) and earning Player of the Tournament honors in 2021. In European Championship action, Ronaldo stands as the UEFA Euro all-time top scorer, recording 30 appearances, 14 goals, and 8 assists while captaining Portugal to the Euro 2016 crown.

Key takeaways

• Lionel Messi registered 60 international assists compared to 36 by his rival.
• Cristiano Ronaldo became the first player to score across five World Cup tournaments.
• The captain won the 2022 World Cup Golden Ball while leading Argentina to gold.