English legend Gary Lineker believes Ronaldo deserved a national team farewell as dignified as Messi's.

Lineker made the remarks during the "Sports Industry Leaders Week" conference held at Stamford Bridge in London. This came 24 hours after Ronaldo published a lengthy post explaining his sudden departure from Portugal's national team training camp, accusing coach Jorge Jesus of breaking promises.

Meanwhile, Messi bid farewell to Argentine fans in an ideal send-off. He scored one goal and provided two assists in a 3-0 friendly win against Benin, helping Argentina secure victory. The Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires was filled with applause and songs, with the atmosphere throughout the evening a tribute to his entire career.

Lineker told reporters: "I think it's a bit of a shame because he was such a great player. Ultimately, in five or ten years, no one will remember the tension; they'll only remember his greatness."

Lineker added: "But I think Messi's farewell was really moving, and I feel Cristiano deserved the same treatment."

These comments once again highlighted the historic rivalry between the two superstars. For over a decade, Messi and Ronaldo have dominated football, with Messi winning the Ballon d'Or eight times and Ronaldo seven times. Nevertheless, neither is considered a favorite for this year's Ballon d'Or.

During his speech, Lineker also praised his compatriot Kane. Kane equaled England's appearance record after the match against the Czech Republic, matching legendary goalkeeper Peter Shilton with 125 caps. His national team goal tally also reached 91 after the 3-0 victory.

Lineker, who scored 48 goals for England, called current England captain Kane one of the greatest players in English history, stating: "I think he deserves to be on that list, perhaps alongside Bobby Charlton, or even Bobby Moore. Look at his accolades; it's astonishing."

He said: "He's not just a goalscorer, not just a box player like me; he's much more than that. He can drop deep to get the ball, pass across the field, and score all kinds of goals with both feet and his head. He can do everything."

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