Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Cristiano Ronaldo Supported Messi After His First Retirement
Lionel Messi once said he would stop playing for Argentina after a painful loss in 2016.
Argentina had lost the Copa America final to Chile.
Messi had also missed a penalty in the match.
Cristiano Ronaldo said he felt sad seeing Messi cry.
He hoped Messi would return because Argentina needed him.
Ronaldo also said that missing a penalty did not make Messi a bad person.
Messi eventually returned to the national team.
He later helped Argentina win major trophies, including the 2022 World Cup.
Lionel Messi first announced his international retirement in 2016 after Argentina lost the Copa America final to Chile.
Cristiano Ronaldo said he was hurt to see Messi in tears and hoped he would return to Argentina’s team.
Ronaldo said missing a penalty did not make Messi a bad person and urged fans to accept his decision.
Messi later reversed his retirement and helped Argentina win the 2021 and 2024 Copa America titles and the 2022 World Cup.
The articles describe Messi’s latest retirement as following another World Cup final defeat, but differ on the timing and opponent.
- Who
- Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, with Argentina’s national football team involved.
- What
- Messi announced his first retirement from international football in 2016, and Ronaldo publicly reacted by supporting his return.
- When
- Messi made the first announcement after the 2016 Copa America final; the articles also discuss a later retirement announced on Monday.
- Where
- The first retirement followed Argentina’s Copa America final against Chile.
- Why
- Messi was reportedly heartbroken by consecutive final defeats to Chile and by missing a penalty in the 2016 final.
- First retirement
- Messi announced his first international retirement in 2016.
- Match involved
- Argentina lost the 2016 Copa America final to Chile.
- Cristiano Ronaldo’s reaction
- Ronaldo said he hoped Messi would return because Argentina needed him.
- Ronaldo’s defense of Messi
- He said missing a penalty did not make Messi a bad person.
- Messi’s return
- Messi later reversed his decision and returned to Argentina’s national team.
- Major later trophies
- Argentina won the 2021 and 2024 Copa America titles and the 2022 World Cup with Messi.
- Reported latest retirement
- The articles describe a later retirement after another World Cup final defeat, with differing details about the timing and opponent.
