Cristiano Ronaldo has offered his support to long-time football rival Lionel Messi following the death of the Argentine star’s father, Jorge Messi, at the age of 68 after a prolonged illness. Ronaldo responded to an emotional social media post shared by Messi in memory of his father, sending condolences to the Argentina captain and his family. “A huge hug to you and yours in these tough times, Leo. Much strength,” the Portuguese star wrote.
Messi had earlier shared a deeply personal tribute to his father, reflecting on the role Jorge played throughout his life and football career. Jorge Messi died in Rosario following a prolonged illness. The 39-year-old recalled how his father had accompanied him to training when he was a child and remained closely involved in his career as he developed into one of football’s greatest players.
Messi said he was struggling to accept the loss and reflected on memories stretching from his childhood in Argentina to the biggest stages of international football. His post also touched upon conversations he had with his father about his playing career and the 2026 World Cup. Jorge had played a central role in managing his son’s career and had remained an influential figure behind the scenes as Messi moved from Rosario to Barcelona as a youngster and subsequently established himself as a global football star.
Ronaldo’s message attracted considerable attention because of the extraordinary sporting rivalry the two players shared for more than a decade. Messi and Ronaldo dominated world football during their years with Barcelona and Real Madrid respectively, regularly competing for major individual and club honours. Their performances also fuelled a long-running debate among supporters over who should be regarded as the greatest player of their generation.
Despite the intensity of their sporting competition, both players have repeatedly expressed respect for each other. Ronaldo has previously said their rivalry helped push both of them to greater heights and declared in 2023 that the rivalry was effectively over after they had shared football’s biggest stage for years.
His latest message was widely viewed as another example of their relationship extending beyond competition when faced with a personal tragedy. Messi has received condolences and messages of support from across the football world following his father’s death, with former teammates, players and other prominent figures reaching out to the Argentine star. The loss comes at a significant point in Messi’s career, with the veteran forward continuing to play for Inter Miami after leading Argentina at the 2026 World Cup. In his tribute, Messi also raised questions about his future in football as he reflected on his grief and the influence his father had on his career.