Lionel Messi's decision to step away from international football has prompted an outpouring of gratitude from his Argentina teammates, who hailed the 39-year-old as the greatest player the game has ever seen.
Messi announced on Monday that his time representing the national team had come to a close, closing the book on a 21-year international career that began with his debut in 2005 at just 18 years old. He leaves the Argentina squad having made 207 appearances and scored 125 goals, a tally that places him second only to Cristiano Ronaldo on the all-time list of men's international scorers.
The forward's international journey included the pinnacle of his career: lifting the World Cup in 2022. This year, he once again wore the captain's armband and guided Argentina to another World Cup final. Alongside his international honors, Messi also collected a record eight Ballon d'Or awards during a career that took him from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain and now to Inter Miami, where he intends to continue playing.
Notably, this is not the first time Messi has walked away from the national team. He initially retired in 2016 following a painful defeat to Chile in the Copa America final, Argentina's third consecutive final loss at the time. He was later persuaded to reverse that decision and went on to spend another decade in the sky blue and white jersey, a period that produced the crowning achievement of the 2022 World Cup triumph.
Angel Di Maria, who was part of that World Cup-winning squad, expressed his disbelief at seeing his longtime teammate depart. "It's so hard to read that you're retiring; we won't be seeing you wearing the sky blue and white colours anymore," Di Maria said. He added that witnessing Messi's career had been a privilege of timing: "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 also paid an emotional tribute, pointing to Messi's character as much as his footballing brilliance. "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," De Paul said. "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."
Younger squad member Enzo Fernandez, who came through the ranks alongside Messi's later international years, described the surreal nature of his departure. "I've spent so many years seeing you there that it seems impossible to imagine it any other way," Fernandez said. "How lucky I was, Leo... thank you for treating me the way you did, for everything you taught me and for letting me be part of your story. We're going to miss you so much, captain."
Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentine Football Association, drew comparisons between Messi and another diminutive No. 10 who delivered World Cup glory to the nation, Diego Maradona. "The captain of our dreams," Tapia said. "That kid, 'La Pulga' [The Flea], that alien who made possible what so often seemed impossible... You are already a legend of this land, of our national team and of world football. You made us believe in magic."
Based on reporting from The Independent.