- Published
On a night where one football legend received a grand farewell from his country, about 6,000 miles away, another released a lengthy statement discussing all the ways in which he had been wronged by his national team coach.
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he → publish → coach
Argentina great Lionel Messi took the adulation of the crowd in Buenos Aires as his glittering international career ended with a goal against Benin on an emotional night.
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career → take → night
Meanwhile, Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo released a statement on social media, accusing manager Jorge Jesus of an "absolute breach of trust" while admitting he should be held accountable for his own actions.
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he → release → actions
The former Manchester United and Real Madrid forward left his country's Nations League camp last week after being an unused substitute against Norway and then finding out he would not start against Denmark.
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he → leave → Denmark
Portuguese journalist Jose Delgado says "things will never be the same again" for Ronaldo and Portugal - so is this the beginning of the end?
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this → say → end
Jesus has said the door is open for Ronaldo to return to the national team, but is it?
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it → say → team
Or will this saga continue, potentially closing the book on the international career of one of the greatest players of all time?
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saga → continue → time
BBC Sport takes a look at what could be the end of the international careers of two football greats.
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what → take → greats
What is going on with Ronaldo?
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What → go → Ronaldo
The Ronaldo saga has been rumbling on for some time, with many fans critical of former Portugal boss Roberto Martinez's insistence on starting Ronaldo at this summer's World Cup.
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fans → rumble → Cup
At 41 years old, Ronaldo is not the dynamic player he once was and many suggested his presence hindered the team rather than helped.
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presence → suggest → team
However, things came to a head on Sunday when Ronaldo was an unused substitute in the Nations League win over Norway.
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Ronaldo → come → Norway
The player subsequently left camp after finding out he would not start against Denmark in November.
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he → leave → November
On Tuesday, Ronaldo released an almost-2,000 word statement on Instagram in which he said Jesus had twice "broke his word" and accused him of an "absolute breach of trust" for firstly not playing him against Norway after saying he would, before going back on a decision to present an agreed version of events to the media.
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he → release → media
Ronaldo apologised to fans and team-mates for leaving the camp and said the consequences of that must be "assessed and punished" while also dismissing any suggestion that he had played his last match for Portugal.
"We will have one or more farewell matches, there will be time for that," the statement said.
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statement → apologise → that
Manager Jesus said on Sunday the door remains open for Ronaldo to return if he chooses to, but many are suggesting the damage is already done.
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damage → say → Sunday
Portuguese football journalist Delgado told BBC Radio 5 Live: "I don't think there is a way back.
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I → tell → Radio
In the statement, Ronaldo says he will return to the national team but at the same time he calls Jesus a liar three times.
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he → say → Jesus
"In the polls in Portugal made about this issue, only 15% of the Portuguese were on Ronaldo's side and people think we owe him a lot but his time is already done and he must understand it.
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he → make → it
"The problem is that Ronaldo does not understand it, he wants to keep playing as if he was 24, not 41.
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he → understand → it
No matter what happens, no matter if he plays again or if you have a game to say goodbye to Ronaldo things will never be the same.
"
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things → happen → Ronaldo
What Ronaldo did for Portuguese football is unique and incredible and we must thank him for all the service he gave to Portugal.
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he → thank → Portugal
But at 41, he has no place in the best XI of Portugal."
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he → have → Portugal
Manager Jesus has reportedly said that he had not seen Ronaldo's statement as he was watching the Portugal under-21 game.
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he → say → game
Al-Nassr forward Ronaldo has scored 146 goals in 234 Portugal appearances - both world records - helping them win Euro 2016 and the Nations League twice.
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them → score → Euro
It seems unlikely that Ronaldo will voluntarily retire from the national team before he hits the elusive 1,000 goal mark he is chasing for club and country - he currently has 979.
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he → seem → 979
But have his actions made the situation untenable?
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situation → make → ?
When it comes to fans, opinions appear to be split.
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opinions → come → fans
On several billboards in Lisbon posters have been put up praising Ronaldo and criticising Jesus.
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posters → put → Jesus
They read, in Portuguese: "Thank you Cristiano Ronaldo for everything you did for Portugal.
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you → read → Portugal
At the Denmark game, some fans wore T-shirts spelling out 'Love you Jesus' while others were head-to-toe in Ronaldo merch.
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others → wear → merch
In stark contrast, Messi brought the curtain down on his illustrious Argentina career, where he has won one World Cup and two Copa Americas, in front of an 85,000-strong sellout crowd inside the Monumental in Buenos Aires.
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he → bring → Aires
The 39-year-old announced his retirement from international football in August after Argentina finished runners-up at the World Cup and following the death of his father Jorge.
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Argentina → announce → father
Messi marked his final appearance for La Albiceleste with a goal before addressing the adoring fans in a speech lasting nearly 10 minutes.
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Messi → mark → speech
Some of his team-mates were in tears as Messi admitted he did not want to leave the field.
"There are so many emotions going through me right now," he said.
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he → admit → me
"I'm surely forgetting many things I would like to say because this is a very difficult moment for me.
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this → forget → me
The first person who comes to my mind is my dad.
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who → come → mind
"I leave grateful, proud and at peace.
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I → leave → peace
Messi departs as the record appearance-maker and goal-scorer for Argentina but will continue his club career with Major League Soccer team Inter Miami.
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Messi → depart → Miami
It seems the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner wants to enter the world of football club ownership and is making moves to do so.
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winner → seem → moves
…and 6 more, not listed.
The Aporia
