Nadal retired from tennis, stars like Ronaldo, Messi and Mbappe paid tribute to the influence of the “King of Clay”.
Rafael Nadal, the world tennis legend with 22 Grand Slam titles, officially announced his retirement after the Davis Cup in November this year. This shocked the sports world.
Top football stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe… expressed their feelings before a monument of the world sports village. They not only expressed deep respect but also emphasized Nadal’s great influence.
Nadal (left) and Ronaldo (right) are close friends
Ronaldo: “Nadal, a great friend and inspiration”
Ronaldo, the soccer star and former Real Madrid player, immediately expressed his feelings on Instagram after Nadal announced his retirement. Ronaldo, Real Madrid’s all-time leading scorer, has not only been a fan but also a close friend of Nadal over the years.
CR7 wrote: “Rafa, what an amazing career you’ve had! Your dedication, passion and incredible talent have inspired millions of people around the world. It’s been an honor to witness your journey and call you a friend. Congratulations on your incredible career! Enjoy your well-deserved break!”
Messi: “Nadal is an example of perseverance and effort”
Shortly after, Lionel Messi also sent his gratitude to Nadal through a video shared on the official Laureus account. Messi emphasized Nadal’s perseverance and fighting spirit: “Hello Rafa. I want to say that you are an example for all of us, not only because of your hard work but also because you have been at the top of your career for many years. I want to send you my best wishes. See you soon!”.
Messi and Nadal have a special relationship. Both are legends in their respective sports. Messi’s comments reflect his deep admiration for Nadal, who M10 sees as a perfect example of perseverance and success.
Messi (right) is not as close to Nadal (left) as Ronaldo, but the football legend always respects the tennis legend.
Mbappe, Vinicius Jr, Vazquez: “Nadal is a legend”
Mbappe, who currently plays for Real Madrid, also paid tribute to Nadal on Instagram: “Congratulations Rafa on a great career, a great example both on the field and in life. Enjoy your time off. You will always be a legend.”
Vinicius Jr, Real Madrid’s outstanding striker, did not hesitate to praise Nadal: “Legend! Congratulations to you for everything. It was an honor to see you play at the top for such a long time. You are a shining example for all of us. Thank you for everything!”
Lucas Vazquez, another Real Madrid player, wrote: “Congratulations on your career, Rafa! You are the best example of sporting values! Thank you for always being dedicated to Spanish tennis and making us love tennis so much. You are the real GOAT (greatest tennis player in history).”
Djokovic and Sinner give Nadal “golden” words
Djokovic and Sinner, who are attending the 2024 Shanghai Masters, took the time to express their admiration for the 38-year-old player.
“A post is not enough to express my respect for you and what you have done for our sport. You have inspired millions of children to play tennis. I think that is probably the greatest achievement anyone could wish for. Your perseverance, dedication, fighting spirit will be taught for decades to come,” wrote “The Djoker”, who is set to play in the Shanghai 2024 quarterfinals.
The Serbian also promised to watch Nadal play his final matches at the 2024 Davis Cup. Nadal’s Spain will face the Netherlands in the quarterfinals on November 19. If they win, Rafa and Spain will face the winner of the Canada/Germany match on November 22, with the final taking place on November 24.
World No. 1 Sinner, who just reached the Shanghai semi-finals, wrote to Nadal: “Thank you Rafael Nadal for everything you have given to this sport. I had the opportunity to train with you for a few weeks a few years ago and I will never forget it. Both on and off the court you are a true legend. We will miss you very much.”
