JUST ENJOY THEM

Nothing compares to sport’s contrasts, and few are as stark as the exits of two defining icons of the modern football era. As one continues to negotiate his grand departure from the international stage in a swirl of petulant rancour, bitterness and posturing, the other’s farewell was – up to a point – a study in dignified grace. Ignoring the somewhat jarring moment when an otherwise quite touching drone display lit up the night sky over Buenos Aires with an advert for an insurance company, Lionel Messi’s final match for Argentina was the perfect curtain call.

A capacity crowd witnessed pre-match pyro, presentations and an evocative “Gracias No 10” shirt pitch banner before Argentina’s friendly against Benin, a team who could scarcely have been more obliging visitors. Argentina ran out comfortable winners, even if Benin’s goalkeeper, Marcel Dandjinou, failed to read the room and appeared to be playing under the delusion that 80,000 locals had packed the stadium to watch him deny Messi a valedictory goal. When it was eventually scored from the penalty spot, the strike was greeted by an explosion of emotion, noise and tears. Whether the louder weeping came from the stands or the Sancor Seguros PR department remains unclear.

Where Messi’s long goodbye has been handled with the reverence of a state funeral, Cristiano Ronaldo’s international endgame increasingly resembles a toddler having a playground meltdown because mum brought the wrong sippy-cup. Having previously flounced out of the Portugal camp promising to tell his people “the truth”, Ronaldo portrayed himself as some political dissident leaking important state secrets rather than a preening 41-year-old diva who didn’t get a promised run-out off the bench. In an extremely contradictory 1,740-word manifesto published on a Social Media Disgrace, he detailed the tragic breach of a “30-minute minute-management strategy” with the Portugal head coach, Jorge Jesus, as if it were a direct contravention of the Geneva Convention.

Without question, the highlight of his literary outburst was a ludicrously self-aggrandising eight-point statement Jesus had apparently agreed to make on the player’s behalf. Thankfully, the 72-year-old thought better of blowing smoke up the ageing superstar’s nether regions and promptly threw his script in the bin. “I read his statement,” sighed Jesus to reporters waiting outside his house this morning. “Now, like I do every single day, I will go to the Portuguese federation and work, think about the team and the national squad. I have nothing more to say. Thank you.”

And that almost certainly sums up the difference between both footballers. For over 20 years we have argued about who was better, but recent events simply reflect who they have always been. Messi’s farewell was an emotional, meticulously planned event that was only slightly spoilt by the obligatory corporate intrusion. Ronaldo’s continues to be a parable starring a martyr effectively calling for his own stoning while handing out the rocks. In the end, last orders are inevitably called for every sporting icon. The only real choice left to them is to drink up and leave through the front door, or get unceremoniously bounced out into a back alley after repeatedly insisting on their God-given right to one last pint.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“I had a lot of different opportunities to leave, could have left in many different circumstances really. But I was always aware I wanted to depart in the best way possible, with the club on a high, back in the Premier League and with a great chance to build for what will hopefully be a really successful period” – Kieran McKenna gets his exclusive chat on with Nick Ames about why he left Ipswich after promotion and his hopes for the future.

FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS

If yesterday’s Football Daily was right in predicting that the South Korean draft dodgers will end up on latrine duties, it will at least give them a different angle on anticipating their colleagues’ movements …” – Phil Taverner.

James Vortkamp-Tong (yesterday’s letters), could I be one of 1,056 to retort that Carl Simon totally deserved the recognition. Nobody does it better (or even half as good)” – Trevor Smith.

Strange timing that Ronaldo’s headline-grabbing strop just happens to be in the same window as Messi retiring from international football. Probably just a coincidence though” – James Vortkamp-Tong.

Point No 9: Mr Jesus agrees to polish my statue twice a day, while insisting he wouldn’t do this for the likes of Pelé or Messi” – Cristi Dan Levy (not that one).

If you have any, please send letters to [email protected]. Today’s letter o’ the day goes to … Phil Taverner, who wins a copy of Games of My Life by Sir Alex Ferguson. It’s out now and available in The Guardian Bookshop alongside loads of other great football titles. Terms and conditions for our competitions are here.

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