Messi wins FIRST international 'trophy' for beating 129th best team in the world in low-key friendly as rival Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates winning inaugural Nations League with Portugal.
Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi. The never-ending debate.
The best two players of their generation have both claimed some international recognition this weekend but to differing heights.
Messi was part of the Argentina squad that won the Copa San Juan for beating Nicaragua.
Meanwhile, Ronaldo captained Portugal to Nations League glory with victory over Holland.
While both achieved silverware - Ronaldo's feat carries more weight as that is an official tournament.
Portugal emerged victorious 1-0 on Sunday night to become the inaugural Nations League champions.
The 34-year-old was clearly delighted at Portugal's achievement on Sunday night - as demonstrated by his celebrations in front of their jubilant fans at the Estadio do Dragao in Porto.
The achievement was Portugal's second in three years, following their Euro 2016 triumph.
In contrast, despite holding aloft a trophy at the weekend, Messi is yet to win an official international honour with the Argentina senior team.
Their 5-1 win over 129th FIFA-ranked Nicaragua on Saturday night was merely a warm-up match for the upcoming Copa America in Brazil.
Despite scoring a brace, Messi was mocked on social media by some due to his lack of major honours with Argentina in light of Ronaldo's latest triumph.
@ TrollFootball wrote: 'Ronaldo with Portugal vs Messi with Argentina,' accompanied with picutres of Ronaldo's success with Portugal and Messi crying for Argentina.
@ RonaldoEdition wrote: 'Messi has been in 4 finals with Argentina - won ZERO. Ronaldo has been in 3 finals with Portugal - won TWO. I know who my goat is.'
@ WellBeast tweeted: 'Portugal before Ronaldo: 0 finals played. Portugal with Ronaldo: 3 finals / 2 finals won.
'Argentina before Messi: 2 World Cups won, 14 Copa Americas won, 1 Confederations Cup won. Argentina with Messi: 4 finals played, 0 finals won.
'Class dismissed.'
The 31-year-old will be hoping to prove his doubters wrong and finally win a trophy with Argentina. He has come close before - finishing three-times as a runner-up in the Copa America (2007, 2015 and 2016) and once in the World Cup (2014).