Lionel Messi has officially announced his retirement from international football following the 2026 World Cup final. The news has prompted an outpouring of tributes for the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport. Although the decision was made after the tournament, Messi took some time before sharing it with the public.
Now, the Argentina Football Association has prepared a special tribute for their former captain, who led the country to the 2022 World Cup title and multiple Copa America triumphs. The tribute was a fitting start to a weekend dedicated to celebrating Messi’s extraordinary contribution to the national team, donning the iconic number 10 jersey for years. This weekend, every match across all divisions of Argentine football will pause in the 10th minute for a one-minute ovation in honour of Messi and his remarkable international career. The farewell to Messi has already begun across Argentine football. The Boca Juniors vs Velez match was stopped in the 10th minute, with fans rising to applaud the Argentine legend following his decision to retire from international football.
10 has said goodbye, but your story will never end Messi brought the curtain down on a decorated two-decade international career after making his senior debut for Argentina in 2005. He went on to become the country’s most-capped player and all-time leading scorer, making 203 appearances and scoring 124 goals. His World Cup journey spanned six editions, from 2006 to 2026, during which he scored 21 goals in 34 appearances. That left him second on the tournament’s all-time scoring list, behind France’s Kylian Mbappe, who has 22 goals. At the 2026 World Cup, Messi scored eight goals and provided four assists, including his first World Cup hat-trick against Algeria.
Meanwhile, Argentine President Javier Milei has described Lionel Messi’s retirement fr as a “huge loss” for the national team, while also noting that the decision was understandable. Speaking on Radio El Observador, as quoted by TyC Sports, President Milei said Messi’s departure would present a major challenge for Argentina as the team looks to move forward without its iconic captain. “Messi’s decision to stop wearing the sky blue and white jersey is a huge loss,” Milei said, while acknowledging that the decision “is completely understandable”.
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He had earlier moved past Germany great Miroslav Klose’s tally before Mbappe eventually overtook him.
