Retirement: ‘I’m truly sad’ – Hansi Flick reacts as Messi leaves international football

Barcelona manager Hansi Flick has voiced his disappointment over Lionel Messi's decision to retire from international football. The German coach hailed the 39-year-old Argentine as the world's premier player, praising his performance during the FIFA World Cup. In an interview with DAZN, Flick expressed that Messi is the best player in the world, stating, "Time flies.

That's how it is, and of course, he's the best player in the world, so it's unbelievable. I also greatly enjoyed his performance in the World Cup. He was fantastic."

Flick acknowledged that it was unfortunate, but ultimately inevitable, given Messi's storied career. Messi had hinted at retirement following the FIFA World Cup, but officially announced his decision on August 31 via an emotional Instagram post. The national team captain, who led Argentina to two Copa America titles and a FIFA World Cup victory, revealed his retirement was decided days after Argentina's loss to Spain in the 2026 final.

Initially planning to announce his retirement in July, Messi postponed the news due to his father's passing. Throughout his two-decade international career, Messi earned 207 caps and scored 125 goals.