Lionel Messi is "grateful, proud and at peace" after playing final Argentina match
Messi scored one and set up two in 3-0 win over Benin in Buenos Aires to end with 126 goals in 208 games
Cristiano Ronaldo says he is not retiring from internationals but deserves to be punished for walking out on Portugal
Ronaldo left camp last week after being an unused substitute against Norway and then finding out he would not start against Denmark.
He claims head coach Jorge Jesus twice "broke his word".
The 41-year-old has scored 146 goals in 234 Portugal games - both world records
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It's a shame that once-great players leave it too late to retire gracefully. Understandable but a bit sad. It's also a shame that Messi's retirement displaces a fabulous England performance from the headlines.
Martin, Watford
Messi over-stayed his welcome at the international level by about six years. Saying 'the world will miss him' - the world moves on, like when Pele, Cruyff and many others retired
Barry, Newcastle
Who is the greatest footballer of all time - Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo?
A debate that has now spanned decades.
Messi, 39, and Ronaldo, 41, both played at last summer’s World Cup and had a decision to make.
Messi, who played his final game for Argentina on Tuesday, called time on his international career, while Ronaldo continued.
As Messi emotionally bid farewell, Ronaldo clashed once again with a manager.
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At nearly 70 years of age, I have seen a lot of players come and go. Messi was the best, whatever you might think in many ways. It was a joy to watch him play. It leaves an emptiness now.
Pierre, Netherlands
A lot of people are just unable to get past the semis against Argentina. When you remove those England blinkers and try to look at it from a different perspective, you can tell how much this all means to Messi, and how strongly he's loved by his teammates and country.
Jon, Notts
Image source, Getty ImagesMessi scored his final goal against Benin, a penalty in the 71st minute, to take his Argentina career total to 126 goals
Image source, Getty ImagesThe Argentina captain was visibly emotional after the match
Image source, Getty ImagesMessi said farewell to the Argentine fans in Buenos Aires for the final time
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The difference between Messi and Ronaldo's personalities could hardly have been laid more bare yesterday. Messi has retired gracefully because he aged out of his peak. Ronaldo is desperately trying to cling onto his national team, despite them being an obviously better side without him.
Adam, Devon
No one can thank you enough Messi. Everyone will miss you immensely.
Elisa, Scotland
BBC Sport looked at the rivalry between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in a documentary this year.
This rivalry transcended clubs, countries and competitions for over a decade, to become the defining story of modern football – reshaping how the game was played, consumed and debated across the world.
This is the story of how Messi v Ronaldo became the rivalry that transformed football – and defined a generation.
Image source, Getty Images85,000 fans were in attendance at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires for Messi's final match, where a lot of the pre-match proceedings were dedicated to the country's all time top goalscorer - including a drone show dedicated to the Argentine captain.
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Messi tarnished his image and career with his behaviour at the World Cup. Unforgivable.
Garry, Aysgarth
Neither players careers have ended well. The World Cup didn't do Argentina any favours. Ron is still as arrogant and self obsessed as ever.
Mark, London
Brazil forward and Messi's former Barcelona and Paris St-Germain team-mate Neymar wrote on X: "It's not just Argentina that thanks you, the world thanks you for everything you did for football.
"Thank you for making me love football even more, it was an honour to have played against you and even more so to make history by your side."
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Messi is the greatest! Superior to Ronaldo and on par with the great Maradona.
Steve, Paisley
Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni, speaking after Lionel Messi's final game for Argentina: "It's been a dream come true. I never thought I'd be the coach of the best footballer in history.
"We are eternally grateful to him for giving us the opportunity to be with him.
"The tears are because so many things are going through my head. Not seeing him any more will be sad. He leaves us with an incredible legacy.
"The feeling of having him (Messi) on your side is incomparable. I've never seen that aura in anyone else in my life."
Image source, Getty ImagesLionel Messi is the second-highest goalscorer in World Cup history, with 21, behind France's Kylian Mbappe (22), and second for goals in all internationals (126) behind his great contemporary and rival, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (146).
Watch: Every Messi World Cup goal for Argentina
Image source, Getty Images"There are so many emotions going through me right now.
"I'm surely forgetting many things I would like to say because this is a very difficult moment for me. The first person who comes to my mind is my dad.
"I leave grateful, proud and at peace. Thank you for everything. I have nothing left to do but thank this shirt.
"For 20 years, even through the worst moments, I never stopped fighting, pushing forward, giving everything I had and wanting to be here.
"Not coming here any more 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.
"I think I'm talking more than ever today because I simply don't want this moment to end.
"But 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.
"We came very close to winning it again, and despite everything that was said about us, nothing strange happened. The match against England took a lot out of us because we gave absolutely everything.
"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."
Image source, Getty ImagesMessi walked out onto the pitch with his three children for his final Argentina game
Image source, Getty ImagesMessi has worn the iconic number 10 shirt for 17 years
Image source, Getty ImagesArgentina created a special shirt for Messi's retirement match
Lionel Messi brought his glittering Argentina career to a fitting end with a goal against Benin on an emotional night in Buenos Aires.
The 39-year-old, playing his 208th and final international game, converted a second-half penalty to register his 126th Argentina goal.
He had earlier provided assists for Nicolas Otamendi and Nico Paz in a comfortable 3-0 friendly win.
Messi, who announced his international retirement in August, played the full 90 minutes before the 85,000-strong sell-out crowd inside the Monumental were treated to a laser light show, live music and presentations.
He also addressed the crowd with a speech spanning nearly 10 minutes, with some of his team-mates - including Manchester City's Enzo Fernandez - in tears as Messi admitted he did not want to leave the field.
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We also want to hear your thoughts on Messi's farewell and Ronaldo's Portugal future.
You can have your say by clicking the 'Get Involved' button - it's the big yellow one on this page, you can't miss it.
One bade farewell to international football with tears, emotion and celebration.
The other insisted he is not saying goodbye, despite an ignominious exit from his international camp.
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have both had a very contrasting time over the past week, and we'll analyse their international breaks here this morning.
