The world reacts to Messi’s farewell to international football

On Monday, Argentine football legend Lionel Messi announced his retirement from the national team, eliciting widespread reactions throughout the sports world and Argentina. The national team, represented by X, honored Messi with a heartfelt message: "Eternal gratitude, Leo. We'll love you until the end of our days." The message was accompanied by an image of Messi lifting the World Cup in Qatar 2022.

Clubs from the Argentine Primera Division, such as River Plate, Racing, and Vélez Sarsfield, also showcased their admiration for their former captain. Teammates, too, shared their gratitude. Rodrigo de Paul, close friend of Messi, praised his unwavering love for Argentina, his resilience, and his leadership qualities. Enzo Fernández, another teammate, wrote an extensive letter expressing his gratitude for Messi's support and guidance during his time with the national team. Ángel Di María, one of Messi’s longest-time teammates, expressed his everlasting gratitude for Messi's role in representing Argentina on the global stage.

Leandro Paredes, a current Boca star, praised Messi as "the greatest of all time." Across the football world, tributes poured in for Messi. The Olympic Games, CONMEBOL, UEFA, and Major League Soccer all posted messages of admiration. FIFA released a video counting Messi’s 21 World Cup goals, making him the second-highest scorer in the tournament’s history.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino congratulated Messi on his "extraordinary international career" in a heartfelt Instagram post. Even Argentina's President Javier Milei praised Messi, posting a photo of the icon on his Instagram with the caption "Thank you, impossible man." Other Argentine sports stars, including tennis player Gabriela Sabatini and basketball players Emanuel Manu Ginóbili, Luis Scola, Andrés Nocioni, and Carlos Delfino, also expressed their admiration for Messi.

Even the NBA’s Latin America account thanked Messi, posting an image of him court-side. Motor racing star Franco Colapinto also thanked Messi, calling him "an inspiration to us all." Even Japanese Ambassador to Argentina Hoshino Yoshitaka posted a message in Spanish, expressing his gratitude for Messi’s contributions over the years.