{
  "id": 12355358,
  "title": "Lionel Messi's retirement statement in English: Here's what soccer legend said about end to Argentina career",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/lionel-messis-retirement-statement-in-english-heres-what-soccer",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-06T10:17:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/lionel-messis-retirement-statement-english-173432431.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international competition in August, marking the end of a legendary career with the Argentine national team. The 39-year-old star made history by playing in his sixth World Cup tournament and reaching a third World Cup final. While Argentina lost to Spain in the final, Messi's final match was still emotionally significant. In his statement, Messi revealed that his decision to retire came after his father Jorge's passing on August 7, following a prolonged health battle. Messi expressed his gratitude towards fans and family, emphasizing that he gave his all to bring Argentina happiness and pride. He closed his statement by thanking everyone for their support over the past decades, thanking God for making him Argentine, and saying \"Vamos Argentina!\"",
  "summary": "Here's what Messi said in his international retirement statement.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The National Business",
        "title": "Lionel Messi set for 'Last Tango' with Argentina as Cristiano Ronaldo pouts on Portugal sidelines",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/lionel-messi-set-for-last-tango-with-argentina-as-cristiano-ronaldo",
        "published": "2026-10-06T03:44:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Lionel Messi's family tree: Who are Argentina star's wife, kids and parents as soccer legend says farewell",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/lionel-messis-family-tree-who-are-argentina-stars-wife-kids-and",
        "published": "2026-10-06T05:50:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "End of an era as Messi prepares to hang up Argentina boots",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/end-of-an-era-as-messi-prepares-to-hang-up-argentina-boots-12331734",
        "published": "2026-10-06T08:04:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "End of an era as Messi prepares to hang up Argentina boots",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/end-of-an-era-as-messi-prepares-to-hang-up-argentina-boots-12334292",
        "published": "2026-10-06T08:05:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ghanaian Times",
        "title": "Messi joins Argentina for farewell game against Benin",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/messi-joins-argentina-for-farewell-game-against-benin",
        "published": "2026-10-06T08:29:43.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}