Ronaldo’s Retirement Post Hits 22m Likes in 8 Hours, Overtakes Messi’s Record
The Portuguese forward’s Instagram video reportedly attracted 22 million likes in eight hours, overtaking the engagement recorded on Messi’s August farewell message
Cristiano Ronaldo’s retirement announcement has set a remarkable social media milestone, with the Portugal captain’s Instagram video reportedly surpassing the number of likes on Lionel Messi’s national team farewell post within eight hours.
Also read: JUST IN: Ronaldo Announces Emotional Portugal Retirement
Ronaldo, 41, announced his retirement from international football on Thursday, November 5, bringing an end to a 23-year career with Portugal.
The Al Nassr forward shared a video on his personal Instagram account in which he read a statement confirming his decision to hand back the national team’s number seven shirt.
Figures displayed on the post after approximately eight hours showed 22 million likes, 2.3 million comments, 4.42 million shares and 4.57 million forwards.
The reported engagement put Ronaldo ahead of Messi’s farewell post, which the Argentine captain published on August 31 to announce his retirement from international football.
Messi’s post, accompanied by a photograph of a handwritten letter, had accumulated approximately 19 million likes, according to the figures cited in the comparison.
Ronaldo therefore surpassed that reported total within hours, adding another chapter to the long-running public comparison between the two football greats.
However, the figures represent a snapshot taken at different times rather than a direct comparison of their engagement over the same period.
A report by Gulf News on Friday, November 6, said Ronaldo’s video had attracted 32 million likes, 3.2 million comments and 6.2 million reposts in less than 24 hours.
The report put Messi’s post at approximately 20 million likes, while noting that the Argentine’s announcement had received more views.
Ronaldo’s retirement marks the close of an extraordinary international career that began in August 2003. He leaves Portugal as the country’s record appearance-maker and leading goalscorer, with 234 caps and 146 goals.
He captained Portugal to victory at the 2016 European Championship and won two UEFA Nations League titles with the national side, in 2019 and 2025.
In his farewell statement, Ronaldo described representing Portugal as a privilege and said the time had come to pass the number seven shirt to the next generation.
Messi, meanwhile, ended his 21-year international career after representing Argentina in 207 matches and scoring 125 goals, according to Reuters.
He led the country to the 2022 FIFA World Cup title and Copa América victories in 2021 and 2024.
The two announcements have generated enormous attention, reflecting the enduring influence of both players beyond the football pitch.
Also read: Ronaldo Hits 985 Career Goals After Stunning Hat-Trick in Al Nassr’s 5-3 Victory
Their retirement posts have also provided another striking measure of the global following they command.
