Messi posted the tribute to his late father, Jorge Messi, on Instagram on Wednesday. Jorge had been a lifelong source of support for Messi. He accompanied his son throughout his remarkable journey, from a young boy who loved football to one of the greatest players in history. Jorge passed away on Aug. 8.
In the letter, Messi revealed that it was his father who encouraged him to continue playing in the 2026 World Cup, even though his health deteriorated before the tournament. Messi had promised that Argentina would reach the final so his father could travel to the U.S. to watch him play.
The post garnered 10 million likes and nearly 500,000 comments within just two hours.
One of the most notable comments came from Ronaldo, his long-time rival.
“A huge hug to you and yours during these tough times, Leo. Much strength,” the Portuguese superstar wrote under Messi’s post. This comment received over 1.4 million likes within an hour.
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Cristiano Ronaldo commented on Lionel Messi’s tribute to his late father on Instagram. |
Many other prominent figures in the sports world also showed support for Messi.
David Beckham, co-owner of Inter Miami, wrote: “We are with you and your family, Leo. Always.”
Spanish tennis player Carlos Alcaraz sent a message saying, “Sending you lots of strength, Leo.”
Angel Di Maria, Arturo Vidal, Giuliano Simeone, Richarlison and Thiago Almada were among the other players who offered words of support to Messi. Barcelona and La Liga also expressed their condolences.
Ronaldo experienced the same pain of losing a father that Messi is now going through. His father, Jose Dinis Aveiro, passed away from liver disease in 2005 at the age of 52, when Ronaldo was 20 years old. He could not live to see the major achievements his son attained in his legendary football career.
In September 2019, Ronaldo was moved to tears during an interview while watching rare footage of his late father, SBS reported.
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Cristiano Ronaldo shakes hands with Lionel Messi during the match between Juventus and Barcelona in the Champions League at Camp Nou, Barcelona, Spain, on Dec. 8, 2020. Photo by Reuters |
Messi and Ronaldo have created the greatest rivalry in football history. They have been at the absolute peak of their careers for nearly a decade, frequently facing off when Messi played for Barcelona and Ronaldo for Real Madrid.
Together, they have set numerous records and won a combined total of 81 official trophies, 46 for Messi and 35 for Ronaldo. According to the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS), they are also the only two players to have scored over 900 goals for club and country. Ronaldo currently holds the record for the most goals scored in official matches in football history.
Messi and Ronaldo dominated the Ballon d’Or race from 2008 to 2017, shattering various records along the way. Messi eventually pulled ahead by winning the award in 2019, 2021 and 2023. He holds the record with eight Ballon d’Or wins, while Ronaldo is in second place with five.
After Messi won the 2022 World Cup with Argentina, many believed the debate has been settled for good. However, comparisons between the two legends remain a matter of perspective and the legacy they have built.
At this moment of loss and grieving for Messi, that rivalry has been respectfully put aside, making way for empathy between two competitors who once stood on the peak of the football world.