Lionel Messi’s former Argentina teammates have paid tribute to their retiring captain after the great No 10 brought the curtain down on his international career.
Messi confirmed on Monday that his Argentina career was at an end after 207 appearances and 125 goals for his country.
The 39-year-old, who will continue to play on for Inter Miami, led the nation to World Cup triumph in 2022, and again captained them to the final of this year’s tournament.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward retires as the second leading male goalscorer in international football, with Messi behind only great on-field rival Cristiano Ronaldo.
“It’s so hard to read that you’re retiring; we won’t be seeing you wearing the sky blue and white colours anymore,” Angel Di Maria, part of the World Cup-winning side, 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.”
Messi made his international debut in 2005 as an 18-year-old and spent 21 years in an Argentina shirt, a period that encompassed a record eight Ballon d’Or wins.
The No 10 actually retired once before after a Copa America defeat to Chile in 2016 meant Argentina had been beaten in three successive finals, but was convinced to return and played a decade more.
“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,” Rodrigo 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.”
Enzo Fernandez added: “I’ve spent so many years seeing you there that it seems impossible to imagine it any other way.”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.”
Messi’s rise was akin to that of Diego Maradona, another diminutive No 10 who led Argentina to World Cup glory in 1986 and is similarly regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
“The captain of our dreams,” Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentina FA, suggested. “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. And perhaps thats why `we find it hard to accept that time marches on for you too. The Argentina national team shirt is your flag. And our peoples love for you will last forever.”
