Lionel Messi’s retirement from international football has drawn emotional tributes from former teammates and sporting figures worldwide, including Argentina stars Rodrigo De Paul, Ángel Di María, Leandro Paredes, Enzo Fernández, and former India cricketer Shikhar Dhawan. Messi announced his decision on August 31 at the age of 39, ending a 21-year career with the national team.

Messi’s journey with Argentina was marked by both hardship and glory. He endured five major final defeats and briefly stepped away from international football in 2016 before returning to lead his country to Copa América victory in 2021, the Finalissima in 2022, and the FIFA World Cup later that same year. He finishes as Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and appearance-maker, having finally secured the World Cup title that had defined much of his international narrative.

Among the most heartfelt responses came from Rodrigo De Paul, who shared an emotional Instagram post reflecting on his close bond with Messi. “There’s something I always wanted throughout all these years: for every Argentine to truly know who you are. What you’re like when there are no cameras, no stadiums, when you’re simply yourself,” De Paul wrote. “You never liked that too much. You always felt that your boots were the best way to speak and that the football pitch was where you had to show everything you felt for your country. And I was lucky enough to see everything that happened behind the scenes.”

Ángel Di María, Leandro Paredes, and Enzo Fernández also paid tribute, while Shikhar Dhawan, the former Indian cricketer, took to X to acknowledge the pressure, heartbreak, and perseverance that shaped Messi’s career. The tributes highlighted not only Messi’s extraordinary ability on the pitch but also the profound influence he had on those who shared the dressing room with him—a leader for whom his teammates were ready to give everything until the final whistle.