Former England striker Gary Lineker expressed regret over the acrimonious end to Cristiano Ronaldo’s international career, suggesting the Portuguese star deserved a send-off comparable to that of Lionel Messi. Speaking on October 7 at the Leaders Week sports industry conference at Stamford Bridge, Lineker reflected on Ronaldo’s premature exit from the Portugal national team and contrasted it with Messi’s celebrated farewell appearance for Argentina.
Ronaldo, aged 41, issued a detailed statement on October 6 explaining his sudden departure from the Portugal squad the previous week. In his statement, he accused national team coach Jorge Jesus of breaking promises, although the specifics of these allegations were not publicly detailed. This departure marked an unceremonious conclusion to Ronaldo’s extensive international career, in which he became Portugal’s all-time leading scorer with 146 goals.
In contrast, Messi, 39, featured in Argentina’s 3-0 friendly victory over Benin, scoring a goal and assisting two others. This match served as Messi’s farewell for the Argentine national team and was marked by an emotional ovation in Buenos Aires. Lineker said he believed Ronaldo deserved a similar tribute, emphasizing the impact both players have had on the sport over the past two decades.
“It’s a bit sad because he’s been so great. And ultimately in five years, 10 years, no one will remember this. We’ll just remember how great he was,” Lineker remarked. “If you look at Messi’s farewell, it was so beautiful. And I think Cristiano deserves the same.”
Throughout their careers, Ronaldo and Messi have been widely regarded as two of the greatest footballers of their generation, often compared in debates over the best living player. Messi has won the Ballon d’Or eight times, while Ronaldo has claimed the award five times. However, neither player is considered a frontrunner for this year’s Ballon d’Or, with attention shifting to emerging talents.
Lineker also highlighted England captain Harry Kane as a leading candidate for the upcoming award. Kane recently equalled the England international appearance record of 125 matches, previously held by goalkeeper Peter Shilton, and extended his goal tally to 91 during England’s 3-0 win over the Czech Republic on October 6. Lineker praised Kane’s versatility on the field, noting his ability to contribute beyond goal-scoring.
“I think he’d have to be in that conversation. Probably along with Bobby Charlton and maybe even Bobby Moore. I mean, look at his record, he’s incredible,” Lineker said. “He’s not just a goalscorer either; he’s not just a box player like I was. He’s way more than that. He can drop deep, he sprays passes everywhere, he scores all sorts of goals, both feet, head; he’s got everything.”
As Ronaldo’s international career concludes on a contentious note, the football world continues to celebrate the legacies of its all-time greats while anticipating the rise of new stars on the global stage.