The recently retired tennis star has been friends with the Northern Irishman for many years, with the pair often trading messages of support during their respective sporting careers

Rory McIlroy was one of many to pay tribute to Rafael Nadal after the Spanish tennis icon played his final match on Tuesday.

Rory McIlroy has disclosed how Rafael Nadal and Michael Jordan reached out to him following his US Open heartbreak in June

He famously cried alongside perhaps his greatest-ever tennis rival, Roger Federer, after the Swiss' last match at the 2022 Laver Cup. And Federer sent a heartfelt message in the opposite direction before Nadal's farewell at the Davis Cup Finals this week.

The Spanish tennis player has left the game after 22 Grand Slam victories - and four-time Major winner McIlroy joined in with the messages of congratulations

Rory McIlroy addressed Rafael Nadal after the 22-time Grand Slam champion announced his retirement from tennis following Spain's Davis Cup exit

Rory McIlroy joined the chorus of stars paying tribute to tennis legend Rafa Nadal after his retirement from the game on Tuesday night.

RORY McIlroy has labelled Rafael Nadal ‘a hero and inspiration’ of his while hailing the tennis icon upon his retirement. The 22-time Grand Slam champion played his final match on

The world number three hasn't won a major in over a decade despite consistently being one of the world's top players during that period

Rafael Nadal's relatively low-key retirement ceremony at the Davis Cup was defended by the head of the International Tennis Federation on Sunday as being dictated by the 22-time Grand Slam champion's wishes.

Various sports stars including Novak Djokovic left messages in a video which was played on screens at the venue but some have suggested the 'King of Clay' deserved a bigger farewell.