Lionel Messi walked off the pitch at the Monumental in Buenos Aires on Tuesday as an Argentina footballer for the last time. Ronaldinho, who stood beside him as a teenager at Camp Nou, wrote to him on Instagram within hours.
“What a pleasure and what a joy it has been to have been part of your story from day one, brother,” Ronaldinho posted.
“You made us smile and enjoy football so much.”
The Brazilian added that Messi’s name was “etched in the history of your country, and of the whole world,” before closing on the line that has traveled furthest since: “Enjoy life, brother. I wish you all the best, today and always.”
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The teenager at Camp Nou
Ronaldinho was the star of Barcelona’s attack when Messi broke into the first team in 2004, and would be crowned Ballon d’Or winner the following year. The two shared the pitch at the club for four seasons before Ronaldinho left for Milan in 2008.
“I understand you perfectly, and I know that everything to do with family makes us rethink things,” he added.
Ronaldinho was not writing to a peer. He was writing to the apprentice who went further than anyone else.
The night at the Monumental
Messi had picked Benin, the world’s 93rd-ranked side, for his farewell. Argentina won 3-0 in front of some 85,000 fans. Nicolás Otamendi headed in from a Messi corner just after half-time, Nico Paz scored just after the hour from a Messi pass, and Messi himself converted a penalty in the 71st minute. Two assists and a goal on his 208th and final match for his country.
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He leaves as Argentina’s record scorer with 126 international goals and the record appearance-maker across 21 years. The trophy cabinet he filled in his final stretch runs to the 2021 Copa América, the Finalissima at Wembley in 2022, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and a second Copa América in 2024.
Messi had said in August that he had nothing left to give the national team and that there were young players coming through who deserved their chance. He continues playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
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