Beckham and Mourinho pay tribute to Messi

Sir David Beckham, co-owner of Lionel Messi's club Inter Miami, paid tribute to the Argentine's international career which included scoring 125 goals in 207 games for his country. Beckham, who captained Argentina to World Cup victory in Qatar in 2022, saw them reach the final again in 2026 and win two Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024.

The former England captain expressed gratitude for witnessing Messi's greatness on Instagram, praising him as a young kid with a dream who delivered the greatest gift to his country. Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho also commented on Messi's retirement, saying the next Copa America and next World Cup won't be the same without him.

Fellow Argentina World Cup winning midfielder Angel di Maria described Messi as the greatest of all time, adding that he was born in the right century to witness his performances. Di Maria and Cristian Romero, another Argentina World Cup winner, shared fond memories of playing alongside Messi and being part of his national team during its golden era.

Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez expressed his dream of playing with Messi at least once, highlighting the shared training camps, dressing room conversations, embraces, and the fact that they ended up as world champions together. Fifa president Gianni Infantino congratulated Messi on an extraordinary international career that has inspired millions and redefined the beautiful game.