"Messi had such a beautiful farewell, Ronaldo deserves the same," says England legend

Gary Lineker has weighed in on the recent controversy surrounding the Portugal national team, insisting that Cristiano Ronaldo deserves to end his international career with a fitting tribute to his incredible legacy for his country.

The former England striker drew a comparison with Lionel Messi, who recently wrapped up his international journey with a memorable tribute night at the Monumental, arguing the Portuguese star deserves a similar send-off. "Messi's farewell was so beautiful. Cristiano deserves the same," Lineker said on the sidelines of Leaders Week London 2026.

However, Lineker believes time will put the incident into perspective and that the sheer scale of Ronaldo's achievements will ultimately prevail. "He's made his apology, more or less, and I hope they sort it out. It's a sad situation, because he has been fantastic for Portugal," he noted.

"In five or ten years, nobody is going to remember this. It won't matter, because we're only going to remember how good he was," he stressed.

At 41, Ronaldo remains the ultimate symbol of the most successful era in Portugal's history. And for Lineker, when the moment to bow out finally comes, the farewell must match a career that defined both Portuguese and world football.