Lionel Messi is set to make his final appearance for Argentina as Cristiano Ronaldo’s future with Portugal comes under scrutiny, putting two of football’s greatest modern icons at very different stages of their international careers.
An emotional night awaits Buenos Aires on Tuesday as Lionel Messi prepares to bring down the curtain on his remarkable Argentina career.
The 39-year-old is expected to earn his 208th and final cap for La Albiceleste when Argentina face Benin in a friendly at the Monumental Stadium. The occasion is being billed as “The Last Tango”, with more than 85,000 supporters expected to give the country’s greatest footballing hero a farewell to remember.
Messi leaves international football as Argentina’s record appearance maker and leading goalscorer, having scored 125 goals and registered 68 assists for his country.
His final years with Argentina produced the most successful period of his international career. Between 2021 and 2024, Messi led the team to two Copa America titles, the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the Finalissima, finally ending years of frustration on the international stage.
Argentina Prepare for Life Without Messi
The Monumental has reportedly sold out its 85,018 seats, with supporters eager to witness Messi’s final appearance in Argentina colours.
The occasion will feature a specially designed one-off Argentina kit, while members of the 2022 World Cup-winning squad and their families have been invited to take part in the celebrations.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni expects an emotional evening.
“Tuesday will be very emotional for everyone, including Leo,” Scaloni said after Argentina’s 7-0 friendly victory over Burkina Faso, a match Messi missed.
Scaloni also acknowledged the extraordinary influence Messi has had on everyone around him.
“The feeling of having him on the pitch is unique,” the Argentina boss said, stressing that the national team will continue without Messi but “logically it won’t be the same.”
Messi’s international journey has not always been smooth. He was sent off just 47 seconds into his Argentina debut against Hungary in 2005, while a painful penalty shoot-out defeat by Chile in the 2016 Copa America final prompted him to briefly retire from international football.
He eventually returned and went on to achieve everything he had once seemed destined never to win with Argentina.
The Copa America triumph in 2021 ended a 28-year wait for a major international trophy. The following year, Messi and Argentina defeated France in the 2022 World Cup final to complete one of the most celebrated chapters in the history of international football.
Now, that chapter is coming to an end.
Ronaldo’s Portugal Future Raises Questions
While Messi prepares for a celebratory farewell, Cristiano Ronaldo finds himself at the centre of an increasingly complicated situation with Portugal.
The 41-year-old forward had appeared to be heading towards a new chapter under Jorge Jesus, his former manager at Al Nassr. Instead, tensions emerged almost immediately.
Ronaldo left Portugal’s training camp ahead of last week’s meeting with Denmark after being left as an unused substitute during Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Norway.
The veteran striker later suggested that he would eventually explain why he departed, adding to speculation about his relationship with the new coach.
Jesus, meanwhile, has made it clear that Ronaldo’s stature will not influence his tactical decisions.
“It won’t be Cristiano, or any other player, who changes my ideas as a coach,” Jesus said.
The Portuguese coach has since attempted to play down the disagreement, describing the situation as a misunderstanding and insisting that the door remains open for Ronaldo.
Portuguese Football Federation president Pedro Proenca has also backed the veteran forward, saying Ronaldo will remain part of the national-team picture as long as he is technically capable of playing.
Portugal Winning Without Ronaldo
The situation has become more intriguing because Portugal have won all three matches played without Ronaldo, while Goncalo Ramos, the player selected ahead of him, has scored in each of those games.
That has inevitably raised questions about whether Portugal are beginning to prepare for life beyond their long-serving captain.
Ronaldo’s international numbers, however, remain extraordinary. He has scored 146 goals in 234 appearances for Portugal, world records in both categories.
For now, the focus is on whether Ronaldo and Jesus can repair their relationship before Portugal’s next Nations League fixtures in November.
As Messi prepares to receive an emotional farewell from Argentina, Ronaldo faces a very different question: whether his own extraordinary international career is approaching its final chapter, or whether he still has a leading role to play for Portugal’s next generation.
The two greatest goalscorers of their generation may be nearing the end of their international journeys—but their exits could hardly be more different.
