Retirement often presents elite athletes with complex challenges, as the transition away from a sport that has defined their identity is frequently clouded by internal conflicts and ego. While the necessity of walking away is universal, the manner in which a superstar chooses to depart can either cement their status as a hero or needlessly erode a career of historic achievements. The hardest farewells often come when it’s time for players to retire, but such decisions are often more complex than you’d imagine – fraught with ego and identity dilemmas for athletes who have been consumed by their sport for so long, within a sporting context.
Lionel Messi recently exemplified a graceful exit. Following the World Cup final earlier this summer, the 39-year-old captain announced his departure from Argentina via a heartfelt letter, noting that the choice weighed heavily on his soul. He expressed deep gratitude toward his teammates, coaches, and family for his long journey, emphasizing his desire to allow a fresh generation of talent to emerge. However, he returned to play one final match for La Albiceleste, marking a definitive conclusion to his 20-year career. ⚽️ sign up for THE beautiful game by sports ⚽️. This summer’s World Cup simply solidified what most people already thought: that Portugal was better off without Ronaldo.
In Buenos Aires, thousands gathered to honor Messi, who has achieved a level of adulation approaching divinity within the nation. The atmosphere was emotional, characterized by tears during warmups and a decade-long legacy sealed by a 3-0 victory against Benin, during which Messi contributed one goal and two assists. His departure from the pitch, surrounded by thousands of cheering supporters, provided a clear template for how a legendary career should conclude. Thousands of his followers flocked to Buenos Aires to celebrate a player who has become nothing short of a deity in the country and a goal and two assists in a 3-0 win against Benin seemed a fitting way to end a stellar. Tears were flowing from the moment he stepped out for the warmups to the moment he addressed the crowd with a near 10-minute speech at the end. There tends to be a right and a wrong way of going about it, but regardless of how hard it is to let go. But Messi trudging off the pitch in the famous sky blue and white stripes while surrounded by an adoring stadium crowd seemed as good as it could get, nothing is perfect. I think we can all agree that this is a good example of how to say goodbye. The aging superstar finds himself in an awkward situation where no one wants to be – overstaying his welcome like that uncle at Thanksgiving or Christmas who can’t read the room. A moment that his country will never forget, don’t forget that his incredible talent inspired his nation to victory at the European Championships in 2016.
Conversely, Cristiano Ronaldo finds himself in a significantly different, more turbulent phase with the Portuguese national team. On the same day Messi received his tribute, Ronaldo released a social media statement detailing his frustration with new head coach Jorge Jesus. The veteran forward felt that previous agreements regarding playing time had been disregarded and that he had not received a public apology for the coach’s decision to sideline him during the final 30 minutes of a 3-0 victory against Norway on October 4. Basically, long story short, it kind of all boils down to Ronaldo not playing 30 minutes at the end of Portugal’s win against Norway on October 4 – shock, horror.
This grievance culminated in a public display of frustration during the UEFA Nations League training camp. Despite his erratic statement, in which he urged the Portuguese Football Federation to address his conduct, the message was widely perceived as a hollow “sorry, not sorry” gesture. While the post garnered over 15.5 million likes, it failed to reach the engagement levels of his recent digital output, suggesting waning public interest in his off-field theatrics. Yes, his Instagram post with his statement earned over 15.5 million likes, but that’s far from his top post even in the last few months.
Since his performance struggles during the 2022 World Cup, evidence has mounted that Ronaldo’s impact on the international stage is diminishing. Although he was reportedly encouraged to continue by the federation president, analysts suggest this guidance was misguided. The striker remains a fixture in the lineup, yet observers argue he is stifling the growth of a new generation of Portuguese talent. His tenure has become akin to an unwelcome guest who refuses to leave, with his post-World Cup stint—notably his “I’m back” exclamation after scoring against Uzbekistan—being cited by critics as a low point in his late-career narrative. Instead, Ronaldo continued to play in North America, shouting “I’m back” into the camera lens after scoring two goals against tournament debutant Uzbekistan in what could be the cringiest moment of the tournament.
While his 2016 European Championship victory remains an indelible part of sporting history, his current persistence is actively damaging his stature. The irony remains that the same intensity and ego that propelled him to five Ballon d’Or awards are now fueling his decline. As he continues to play, the comparison between his current output and Messi’s successful conclusion serves to highlight his diminishing influence. For Ronaldo, stepping aside immediately may be the only remaining path to secure a farewell that mirrors the reverence recently afforded to his long-time rival.
