Retiring at the Top
Lionel Messi confirmed on Monday that his Argentina career was at an end, a decision that has drawn heartfelt tributes from the teammates who shared in his international journey. Messi, who will continue playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, leaves the international stage after a career that included leading Argentina to World Cup victory in 2022 and captaining them to the final of this year's tournament in a losing effort against Spain.
The 39-year-old retires as Argentina's most-capped player and leading scorer, with figures reported as 207 appearances and 125 goals by The Independent, while The Times of India lists 203 appearances and 124 goals. He also stands as the second-leading male goalscorer in international football, behind Cristiano Ronaldo, as reported by The Independent. Messi's international resume includes the 2021 and 2024 Copa America titles alongside the 2022 World Cup, as detailed by The Times of India.
Teammates' Tributes
Angel Di Maria, a fellow member of the World Cup-winning squad, expressed the difficulty of accepting the news. "It's so hard to read that you're retiring; we won't be seeing you wearing the sky blue and white colours anymore," he said. "All I know is that I was born in the right century to be able to witness you play, relish your performances and, on top of that, share all those years with you in the national team. To see you fulfill your dreams, and your greatest dream of all – to become world champion. Thank you so much for everything; you're a legend and the greatest of all time."
Rodrigo De Paul highlighted Messi's impact beyond his on-field achievements. "Your unconditional love for our country, your inner struggles to never give up, your strength in always enduring injustice, your leadership and kindness towards every player who stepped onto the training ground to make them feel at home, the little gestures you showed to every member of our national team's staff," he wrote. "I can only say thank you – you are the greatest of all time. Thank you for making us so, so happy; you have no idea how many smiles you brought to our faces!! You are eternal." Both The Independent and The Times of India reported these remarks.
Enzo Fernandez offered a simple message of gratitude. "We're going to miss you so much, captain," he said, as quoted by The Independent. Lautaro Martinez thanked Messi for lessons that extended beyond football, saying, "Thank you for every piece of advice, every talk, every training session, every hug, and every moment shared. Thank you for making history with us and for allowing us to be a part of your story. We're going to miss you so much, captain. We'll be eternally grateful to have shared this journey with you. Thank you for everything, captain," as reported by The Times of India.
Goalkeeper Emi Martinez praised Messi for helping him become a world champion, and Lisandro Martinez offered an especially personal note, writing, "My daughter will be very proud that her father shared a team with such an extraordinary human being," while calling Messi the "greatest athlete in history," according to The Times of India. Leandro Paredes admitted he "wasn't ready" for the announcement, as reported by the same outlet.
Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentina Football Association, added his own tribute, calling Messi "The captain of our dreams," as quoted by The Independent.
A Career in Numbers and Context
Messi's international career began in 2005 as an 18-year-old, and he spent 21 years in an Argentina shirt, a period that included a record eight Ballon d'Or wins, as noted by The Independent. His retirement comes more than a month after Argentina's 1-0 World Cup final loss to Spain, and shortly after the death of his father, Jorge Messi, according to The Times of India.
This is not the first time Messi has stepped away from international football. He previously retired after a Copa America defeat to Chile in 2016, which marked Argentina's third consecutive final loss, but was persuaded to return and played for another decade, as reported by The Independent.