Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo has sent a heartfelt message to archival Argentinian great Lionel Messi after the death of his father Jorge Messi, setting aside years of on-pitch rivalry to offer comfort during a painful personal moment.
Jorge Messi died on Saturday, August 8, at Sanatorio Centro, a clinic in Rosario, Argentina, at the age of 68. Dr Carlos Mackey, the clinic’s medical director, confirmed the death, saying that no further medical details would be released out of respect for the family’s privacy.
On Wednesday, Lionel Messi shared an emotional tribute to his father on Instagram, posting a photo of the two of them together. He described Jorge as his father, friend and mentor, and admitted he still cannot accept that he is gone, writing, “Dad, I still can’t believe you’re gone.”
Ronaldo commented directly under the post, writing, “A huge hug to you and yours in these tough times, Leo.” The comment quickly became one of the most liked responses on Messi’s post, drawing over a million likes within hours.
The two players spent two decades being compared as the game’s greatest rivals, but they have shown mutual respect off the pitch on several occasions, with Ronaldo’s gesture added another chapter to that relationship.
Ronaldo was one of many football figures to send condolences among David Beckham, Neymar, Thibaut Courtois, Carlos Alcaraz and Luka Modrić, all of whom left messages on Messi’s post.
Messi’s tribute also revealed that his father had urged him to play in one more World Cup and had hoped to attend the tournament, but his health declined sharply just before it began.
Argentina reached the final of the 2026 World Cup on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, losing to Spain in extra time.
