Hyderabad, Oct. 8 -- Cristiano Ronaldo led the tributes from the football world as Lionel Messi signed off from international football, with the Portuguese great saluting his long-time rival's two-decade journey with Argentina.

"Leo, so many years defending your country and a history that will last forever," Ronaldo wrote on Instagram, replying to a post in which Messi reflected on his farewell night. "All my respect for what you have achieved with Argentina."

The two players dominated the game for well over a decade, sharing the Ballon d'Or between them for years and going head-to-head in LaLiga when Messi was at Barcelona and Ronaldo at Real Madrid.

Messi, 39, ended his 21-year Argentina career on Tuesday night, October 6, with a pen...