Ronaldo’s Portugal exit contrasts with Messi’s planned farewell

Cristiano Ronaldo has left Portugal’s training camp after learning he will not start against Denmark, while Lionel Messi is preparing for an officially arranged farewell with Argentina in a strikingly different end to the international careers of two long-time rivals.

Ronaldo departed on Wednesday after Portugal manager Jorge Jesus confirmed that the captain would again be left out of the starting line-up for Thursday’s Nations League third-round match. The 41-year-old was an unused substitute during the previous game, a 2-1 victory over Norway.

In a statement, Ronaldo said he would explain the reasons for his departure to the Portuguese people “at the right time”.

The dispute began after the match in Oslo, when Ronaldo went straight to the dressing room after the final whistle rather than joining his team-mates in greeting the supporters. He then missed three consecutive full training sessions, in an apparent protest at not being involved in the Norway match, even as a substitute.

Reports in Portugal have suggested the development could mark the end of Ronaldo’s international career. Portuguese newspaper O Jogo reported: “Cristiano Ronaldo has made an irreversible decision: he will no longer represent Portugal. The match against Wales was his last game for the national team.”

Ronaldo has made a record 234 appearances for Portugal and scored 146 goals. His international honours include victory at Euro 2016 and two Nations League titles.

Messi set for Argentina farewell

Across the Atlantic, Messi is preparing for a very different send-off.

The 39-year-old announced his international retirement on 31 August, bringing an end to a 21-year spell with Argentina. He said he had written his retirement message on 21 July, two days after the World Cup final, but delayed publishing it because his father was ill. His father died on 8 August.

Argentine Football Association president Claudio Tapia has invited Messi to play in a farewell match against Benin on 6 October. The association has also invited all of Argentina’s 2022 World Cup winners to take part, with the fixture described as “the final tango”.

Messi leaves international football with 207 appearances and 125 goals, making him Argentina’s all-time leading scorer. Twenty-one of those goals came in World Cup matches. He also won two Copa America titles and played in the most recent World Cup final against Spain.

The planned ceremony is expected to give Messi a significant farewell in front of Argentina supporters, at almost the same time Ronaldo is leaving Portugal’s camp in apparent frustration. Both departures appear likely to be the final international moments of their careers, but the circumstances could hardly be more different.