POLES APART! Messi and Ronaldo prove how different they really are as footballing legends go through contrasting ends to international careers

They've been wildly different for almost their entire careers, and now it seems as if they want to make their international exits as contrasting as possible.

On a night where Lionel Messi lapped up the love of 85,000 fans in his homeland for the final time, reducing team-mates to tears as some felt they simply couldn't say goodbye - Cristiano Ronaldo was issuing a public apology for walking out of Portugal camp amid a row over playing time.

This summer's World Cup looked as if it would be as watershed moment, whatever happened. Both Messi and Ronaldo playing in a sixth World Cup in the twilight of their careers. Argentina's journey coming up short in the final, Portugal going out in the last 16 to eventual winners Spain.

Retirement was expected for both men, and Messi has opted to call time on his international career. Going out, quite literally, with fireworks at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires with a goal and, yet another, Argentina win.

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In an uncharacteristically lengthy speech, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner declared: "It was a privilege and an honour to share the pitch with all of my teammates and to share so much of our lives together" as he referenced the roles they played in him realising a dream by winning the World Cup four years ago.

Even on a night where it was all about him, Messi was sure to make it about the collective. Ronaldo doesn't appear determined to deliver the same message.

If Messi seems to have nailed the timing of his exit, the former Manchester United and Real Madrid star is going out with a tantrum that could come to sour an international career that is already finishing in underwhelming fashion on the pitch.

Portugal's new era has been led by Jorge Jesus, the man who managed Ronaldo at Al Nassr, finally ending their wait for Saudi Pro League glory. But quickly his tenure has been engulfed by a saga of Ronaldo's own making as the 41-year-old struggles to accept that maybe the team may have to begin moving on from him.

The Portugal captain left his country's Nations League camp last week after being an unused substitute against Norway and then finding out he would not start against Denmark.

He put his frustration down to Jesus going back on his word, as if the manager somehow wasn't allowed to pick a team and make in-game decisions as he sees fit.

But now the dust has settled Ronaldo has admitted he deserves to be punished. The new Portugal boss has won four from four to begin his regime, and who knows if Ronaldo and all the political problems that come with him, are part of his plans.

It would be sad, but ultimately a situation purely on his own making, if the final image of Ronaldo on the international scene was him trudging down the touchline in self-absorbed frustration after a Portugal win.

Even in a 2,000 word apology statement on social media, where Ronaldo accepts that his actions are worthy of a punishment, he still has to get in a dig at Jesus.

He stated: "The Portuguese Football Federation must assess the consequences of my actions and punish me for them. I believe the punishment should not be reduced. I have already apologised, but I know that actions have consequences."

But was sure to add: "Never, at any moment, have I interfered in any technical or tactical decision of any coach or national team manager in almost 25 years of career. I accept, for better or worse, what they propose that I do. I respect the decision, and when they break their word to me, I feel that my place is not there."

Ronaldo has promised a Portugal farewell to the supporters, and such is his political clout, he'll no doubt get one whether his manager wants him involved or not.

Ultimately though Ronaldo is close to the end and, whilst there's always been an element of hassle and baggage with the forward, for so long he was worth it for what he produced. That scale tipped some time ago, longer than he and his cult of followers would like to acknowledge despite the noise they continue to generate around him.

Messi has been quiet for years, but the strength of feeling inside that stadium in Argentina on Tuesday night was as loud a statement as you'll see. Ronaldo meanwhile is doing what he can to ensure history remembers his final days in quite a different way.