Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been the two stalwarts of the game for close to two decades, and their supporters have often been involved in fan wars on social media. But one cannot deny that there is mutual respect between the two. On Wednesday, the warmth and affection between the two were on display as CR7 dropped a comment on the 39-year-old’s Instagram post, where he penned a heartbreaking statement regarding the death of his father, Jorge.
On Wednesday, Messi issued a first reaction to the passing away of his father, and the Argentine superstar said that he cannot comprehend the loss and doesn’t know how he will go on. He also added that his biggest motivator has gone, and the world seems to have come to a standstill.
Shortly after Messi’s post, Ronaldo sent a “huge hug” to his biggest rival. He also wished strength upon the Argentine national team captain.
“A huge hug to you and yours in these tough times, Leo. Much strength,” Ronaldo commented on Messi’s post.
Speaking of Messi’s father, Jorge, he died last week at the age of 68. He was battling illness for a long time and was in poor health. The 39-year-old Messi, who captained Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2026, maintained silence for several days before issuing his first public statement on August 12.
What did Messi say?
In his statement, Messi said he wanted to win the World Cup for his father and admitted he lacked strength because he was unable to push himself physically.
“We reached the final, and you couldn’t be there. I wanted to win it so I could take it to you and show you a new one. I couldn’t. My legs just couldn’t go any further. This time, I tried to push through it physically, but I couldn’t. I never felt well,” he wrote on Instagram.
Recently, several media reports also stated that Messi suspended his playing career indefinitely after the death of his father. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner decided to step away from his professional commitments to support his family during this time of grief.
Speaking of Jorge, he was more than a father to Messi; he was also his first adviser, agent, and supporter from the very beginning. Jorge’s funeral was recently held in complete privacy in Rosario.
