{
  "id": 12564412,
  "title": "Messi calls Argentina retirement ‘saddest day of my career’",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/messi-calls-argentina-retirement-saddest-day-of-my-career-12564412",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-07T06:34:18.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch Nigeria",
    "slug": "punch-nigeria",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/messi-calls-argentina-retirement-saddest-day-of-my-career/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Lionel Messi has described his retirement from international football as the \"saddest day of my career\" after playing his final game for Argentina. According to Daily Post Nigeria, Messi's last match was a friendly game against Benin Republic, which Argentina won 3-0. Messi was involved in all three goals, scoring one and providing two assists.\n\nIn his farewell speech to the 85,000 fans after the match, Messi expressed his emotional attachment to playing for Argentina, saying it's the \"most beautiful thing there is.\" He stated that he would have loved to continue playing for the team for his entire life. Messi also reflected on the challenges they faced, particularly in the last World Cup, which \"took a lot out of us.\"\n\nMessi finished his Argentina career as the country's most-capped player with 208 appearances and 126 goals. Daily Post Nigeria reported that Messi addressed the fans, saying he has \"nothing left to do but thank this shirt\" and that not playing for Argentina anymore \"is going to hurt a lot.\"",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "Messi calls Argentina retirement ‘saddest day of my career’",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/messi-calls-argentina-retirement-saddest-day-of-my-career",
        "published": "2026-10-07T06:30:18.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Daily Post Nigeria",
        "title": "‘They are from another planet’ – Willian picks better player between Messi, Ronaldo",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/they-are-from-another-planet-willian-picks-better-player-between",
        "published": "2026-10-07T06:30:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Watch: Messi rejects selfie request from Benin player in retirement match",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/07/watch-messi-rejects-selfie-request-from-benin-player-in-retirement",
        "published": "2026-10-07T06:52:28.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}