Lionel Messi, the Argentine football legend, has posted a heartfelt message to Swiss tennis icon Roger Federer after the latter revealed that he will be hanging up his boots after the Laver Cup tournament in London, which is scheduled to take place from September 23 to September 25.
Messi has written his message in Spanish, which translates to, “A genius, unique in the history of tennis and an example for any athlete. All the best in your new stage, we will miss seeing you on the court making us enjoy”.
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Here’s the post from the Argentina skipper:
Messi and Federer are two figures whose rise, technique, and temperament have often been compared. Both are known to be extremely skillful, beating their opponents with their craft instead of strength. Both are known to have quiet and shy demeanors, and are not that aggressive on the pitch. This is in stark contrast to the battle-hardened grit and determination of their respective rivals, Cristiano Ronaldo and Rafael Nadal. Messi and Federer are both perceived as true artists of their game.
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Another element that connects the two sporting greats is their Laureus World Sports Award for Sportsman of the Year wins. Considered one of the most sought-after awards given for sporting excellence, the Laureus Sportsman of the Year was won by Federer on four consecutive occasions- 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008. He won the award again in 2018. Messi, on the other hand, has won the award once, in 2020. It was the first time that a sportsman from any team game had managed to win the prestigious honour.
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Tributes have been flowing in since the Swiss tennis legend announced his retirement from tennis. From Rafael Nadal to current US Champion Carlos Alcaraz, numerous tennis players have sent their messages to the 20-time Grand Slam champion for his life after retirement.
