Ronaldo Rises Above Rivalry, Sends Heartfelt Support to Messi Following His Father's Passing

Cristiano Ronaldo was among the countless people who reached out to Lionel Messi following the passing of the Argentine's father, Jorge, encouraging his long-standing rival to "stay strong."

Jorge Messi, who guided his son's storied career from their early days in Rosario, passed away at the age of 68. After the news was confirmed on Aug. 8, a wave of tributes poured in from the soccer community, all paying respect to the former steel mill worker.

Messi shared his own deeply moving message on Wednesday, writing an emotional farewell to his "dad, friend and mentor." The eight-time Ballon d'Or recipient disclosed that Jorge's health had deteriorated during the 2026 World Cup, which was why the Argentine was absent from his son's side at the tournament for the very first time.

"I'm going to miss you so much, but you'll always be with me—especially in raising my children, because I teach and raise them just as you both did with me," Messi wrote. "Rest in peace, and watch over us from above just as you did here. Thank you for everything."

Ronaldo, who lost his own father back in 2005, replied to the tribute on Instagram: "A huge hug for you and yours during these difficult times, Leo. Stay strong."

Some Things Are Bigger Than Sports

Ronaldo and Messi are without question one of the greatest rivalries in history, across any sport. The two exchanged Ballon d'Or honors, records and silverware during the peak of their careers at Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively.

The rivalry extended to the international stage, where both men competed to bring glory to their nations. Many had hoped to finally witness the two square off at a World Cup this summer, but that dream encounter was shattered when Ronaldo and Portugal were knocked out by Spain in the round of 16.

Argentina advanced to the final, but La Roja defeated them as well, denying Messi what would have been a fairytale conclusion to his World Cup journey—one that now carries far greater significance in the wake of his father's death.

Despite being set against each other throughout their entire careers, Messi and Ronaldo never harbored animosity, always conducting themselves with mutual respect off the pitch. Back in May, the Barcelona icon offered a rare glimpse into his legendary rivalry with the Portuguese star.

"Those comparisons or competitions are something natural in the world of soccer. It's normal, just like it happens with clubs or national teams, but it was never anything beyond sports," Messi revealed in an interview on Lo Del Pollo.

"I was at Barcelona and he was at Real Madrid, playing Clásicos, and we were competing for everything both collectively and individually, so people were always comparing us. What both of us achieved made the rivalry even bigger.

"We didn't cross paths often except during matches or award ceremonies, where everyone was always watching to see whether he or I would come out on top. But we were always on good terms. Now we're far apart and at different stages of our lives, but what happened was a beautiful sporting rivalry."

Ronaldo's gesture of compassion during such a painful moment for Messi adds yet another chapter to that "beautiful" bond between the two all-time greats.

David Beckham, Ángel Di María Offer Their Support

Ronaldo was just one of many prominent figures to express solidarity with Messi. David Beckham, who played a pivotal role in bringing Messi to Inter Miami in 2023, wrote: "We are with you and your family, Leo. Always."

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Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois commented, "Much strength."

Messi's former Barcelona teammate Carles Puyol, along with longtime Argentine teammates Ángel Di María and Cristian Romero, shared heart emojis beneath the emotional post.

Beyond fellow players, an enormous number of fan tributes flooded in, with the post accumulating over 800,000 comments as of Wednesday midday.