Arturo Vidal Hails Lionel Messi as 'Greatest in History' Ahead of Farewell

Chilean football star Arturo Vidal has delivered a heartfelt tribute to long-time rival and former teammate Lionel Messi ahead of the Argentine captain's historic final international appearance on home soil at the Estadio Monumental. Vidal, who currently plays for Colo-Colo, set aside years of intense international rivalry to honor Messi, describing him publicly as both an extraterrestrial talent and the greatest player in the history of the sport.

Vidal took to social media to share photos commemorating their shared history, writing: "My friend, today you play your last game for your country. I always wish you the best. You are the best player in history and an extraterrestrial. May the best always be yours." The tribute marks an emotional shift for Vidal, who previously served as the primary foil to Messi's international ambitions during the peak years of Chile's golden generation.

Over the course of their careers, the two South American icons faced each other eight times across international and club competitions. Vidal famously captained Chile past Argentina in consecutive Copa America finals in 2015 and 2016, both decided on penalties. Messi found revenge at the club level, defeating Vidal's Juventus 3-1 in the 2015 UEFA Champions League final, as well as securing victory in the 2019 Copa America third-place match and winning the 2021 Copa America title.

Despite their fierce continental rivalry, the duo developed a strong mutual respect during their two-year stint as teammates at FC Barcelona. Between 2018 and 2020, they shared the pitch in 81 official matches, securing 55 victories, 16 draws, and only 11 defeats, while lifting both the 2018 Supercopa de Espana and the 2018–19 La Liga trophy together.