Argentina Rallies in Tribute as Football Legend Lionel Messi Announces International Retirement

Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the trophy as he celebrates winning the 2022 football World Cup at Lusail Stadium, Qatar, on December 18, 2022.

In the La Boca neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, home to the Boca Juniors stadium and a place that lives and breathes football, fans are taking turns posing for photographs in front of massive murals depicting football legend Lionel Messi holding the 2022 World Cup. Across the city, monuments have been illuminated in Argentina’s blue and white to honor the national hero, who has announced his retirement from international football after two decades that transformed him from a young prodigy into a national icon.

On Monday, football clubs around the country sang songs for Messi and displayed banners showing him holding the World Cup he helped secure for his nation. The Argentine Football Association is planning a farewell match to thank him for his extraordinary service.

Messi announced his departure from the national team via a handwritten letter on social media, stating he wrote it two days after losing the World Cup final against Spain this year. He explained that he had nothing else to give.

While the news was not entirely unexpected given that Messi is 39 years old and recently lost his father, Jorge Messi—who played a crucial role in his career—fans remain deeply devastated. Tributes have poured in from teammates such as Angel Di Maria and Rodrigo De Paul, praising his dedication and enduring legacy.