IT’S the end of the era for two of the game’s great.

Just weeks after Lionel Messi hung up his international boots, Cristiano Ronaldo has done the same.

The Portuguese legend, 41, will no longer play for his country after walking out on the team following a bust-up.

He shared the news in an emotional video on social media, in the wake of clashing with manager Jorge Jesus.

In comparison, Messi, 39, went out on a high with a fairytale friendly against Benin in a packed Buenos Aires stadium.

He scored once and provided two assists, as he waved farewell to his adoring fans.

Off the pitch the pair have amassed incredible wealth, thanks to glittering football careers and successful businesses.

They’ve also managed to combine an insane work ethic with married life and big families.

On the international stage

On the international stage, Ronaldo and Messi have been goal machines.

Fuelled by a desire to lift major trophies, their rivalry continued as they became elder statesman of the sport.

Messi made his debut aged 18 in 2005 for Argentina against Hungary, although he was sent off just 47 seconds after coming on as a sub.

Ronaldo’s debut was a real passing of the baton. Also 18, he replaced Portugal legend Luis Figo on the left-wing at half-time in a match against Kazakhstan.

Messi would earn a staggering 208 caps for the Argies, scoring 126 goals across his international career.

Ronaldo trumped Messi’s numbers, with 234 caps and 146 goals for Portugal.

However, Messi achieved a feat that alluded Ronaldo – lifting the World Cup in 2022.

Ronaldo’s biggest international honour came in 2016, when Portugal won the Euros in a 1-0 win over France.

On a personal level, Messi was recipient of the Ballon d’Or a record eight times, while Ronaldo has a mere golden balls in his trophy time.

Business acumen

Both players have received huge salaries from their clubs, including Barcelona, Manchester United Real Madrid, Juventus and Al Nassr.

But, it’s Ronaldo’s contract with the Saudi Arabia team that’s simply insane.

In 2025, he signed an extension on his deal worth a minimum £492million across two years.

It was the most lucrative contract a footballer has ever been given, and pumped his net worth up to over £1billion.

Earlier this year, Messi was also said to have joined the billionaire club, although his fortune was more due to savvy business interests.

His global business empire is said to be worth around £830million alone.

He has stakes in four clubs, Spanish sides, UE Cornella and CD Eldense, Uruguayan’s Deportivo LSM, as well as Inter Miami, when he retires.

His property portfolio boasts several hotels in places including Ibiza and Andorra.

Adidas also signed him up to a lifetime deal that will only serve to make him even richer.

Messi told the America Business Forum last year: “Business is something that interests me. I would like to keep learning because I know nothing and I am just starting out.”

Ronaldo recently invested his money in second-tier Spanish football team, Almeria.

But, he has his finger different pies. In 2025, he teamed up with British filmmaker Matthew Vaughn in setting up film studio, UR•Marv.

In 2024, before he had aspirations of becoming a movie mogul, Ronaldo launched his official YouTube channel, UR•Cristiano.

Since it began life, Ronaldo has featured in clips with Mr Beast, discussed football with Rio Ferdinand, and given fans a glimpse into his life as the world’s most famous footballer.

Ronaldo also has a global hotel chain. His Pestana CR7 hotels already boasts luxury sites in Lisbon, Funchal, Madrid, New York and Marrakech.

In 2027, they are planning to open resorts in Paris, Riyadh and the UK.

Cars

Ronaldo has splashed a large part of his wealth on an incredible car collection.

At last count, his garage was said to be worth around £100million.

Motors include an ultra-rare Bugatti Centodieci, worth a mind-boggling £12.5million.

With only ten ever built worldwide, the 1,600-horsepower beast shares space with his £5m Bugatti Chiron and a £2.5m Bugatti Veyron Grand Sport Vitesse.

The former Man Utd superstar also snapped up a breathtaking Ferrari SP3 Daytona, valued at up to £6m, alongside the open-top Ferrari Monza SP1, worth around £5m.

There’s also his everyday family runaround — a £500,000 Ferrari Purosangue SUV — and a classic Ferrari 599 GTO, which would have set him back around £1m.

If that wasn’t enough to make petrolheads weep, Ronaldo also squeezed in his track-ready Mercedes-AMG ONE — a £2.4m monster powered by a Formula 1 engine.

Messi’s car collection is believed to be worth around £500million, and features a very rare Pagani Zonda worth £4million.

But the most impressive motor in his fleet is a Ferrari 335 S Spider Scaglietti that he picked up for £28million.

He reportedly beat Ronaldo to buying it too, as their rivalry spilled from the pitch to the auction room.

Alongiside those supercars, Messi also favours car manufacturers like Audi, Land Rover, and Mercedes.

Wags

Messi and his wife Antonela Roccuzzo met when they were children, growing up in their hometown of Rosario, Argentina.

Their paths would cross again in 2000, when a friend of Antonela’s died in a car accident.

Upon hearing the news, the then 19-year-old Messi flew back to comfort Antonela and a romance soon blossomed.

They tied the knot in 2017, in a ceremony the Argentinian media called the ‘Wedding of the Century’.

They have three sons, Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro together, but Antonela has carved out her own career.

In 2014, she launched premium children’s clothing brand Enfans, while she has appeared in fashion campaigns for Alo Yoga, Tiffany and Co, Luis Vuitton, Guerlain & Lancôme.

Ronaldo met his missus, Georgina Rodriguez when she worked in a Gucci store in Madrid in 2016.

She has since branched out from sales assistant to become the world’s most recognised Wag, thanks in part to the Netflix reality show, I Am Georgina.

In August, the couple finally married in a highly private ceremony at their home in Cascais, attended by just their children and four witnesses.

Together, they raise their five children in Riyadh: Cristiano Ronaldo Jr, twins Eva and Mateo, and daughters Alana Martina and Bella Esmeralda.