Buenos Aires carried the weight of farewell as Lionel Messi travelled with Argentina to the Monumental on Tuesday night, visibly emotional on the team bus before what was presented as his final appearance for the national side. The 38-year-old arrived at the stadium for a night shaped as much by reflection as competition.
Among those marking the occasion was Ronaldinho, the Brazilian forward who shared Messi’s earliest senior days at Barcelona. Ronaldinho posted a tribute to his former team-mate, recalling the pleasure of having been part of Messi’s journey from its opening chapter in the professional game.
“It was a joy to be there from your first day, brother,” Ronaldinho wrote. “You made us smile and gave us so much happiness through football. Your name is written into the history of your country and of the whole world.”
The Brazilian also drew on the bond between players who have experienced the particular pull of international football. He said they understood the feeling of fulfilling a childhood ambition by representing their countries and becoming world champions, adding that Messi had given everything to Argentina.
Ronaldinho referred, too, to the importance of family in a player’s decisions. “I understand you completely, and I know that everything involving family makes us think again,” he said. “Enjoy life, brother. I wish you the very best, today and always.”
The connection dates back to Barcelona, where Messi reached the first team in 2004 at the age of 17. Ronaldinho was already one of the club’s defining figures, playing for the Catalan side from 2003 until 2008, and the pair became symbols of a changing era at Camp Nou. On this night in Argentina, that old Barcelona link became part of Messi’s more personal national-team goodbye.
