The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has announced a special tribute to the legendary Lionel Messi following his retirement from international football. The superstar, who led Argentina to the FIFA World Cup title in 2022, sparked global surprise with his retirement announcement. The governing body of Argentine football stated that during the next matchday, play in every match—across both men’s and women’s teams—will be halted exactly ten minutes into the first half. Following this pause, a minute of applause will be observed to honor Messi in recognition of his contributions to football and the Argentine national team. In a statement, the AFA confirmed that the one-minute pause would apply to all categories and disciplines of football—including 11-a-side, futsal, and beach soccer—at the ten-minute mark of the first half in upcoming matches.
This tribute, marked by applause, serves to acknowledge Lionel Messi’s career with the Argentine national team. The gesture will not be limited to 11-a-side football but will also extend to futsal and beach soccer. The AFA further announced that stadiums equipped with large screens would display a farewell video dedicated to Messi before the start of matches. This video, lasting approximately two minutes, showcases moments from Messi’s long journey with the national team. The farewell message in the video reads, “Thank you for uniting the entire country around the symbol of this jersey. We will miss you.”
Meanwhile, Argentine President Javier Milei has described Lionel Messi’s retirement from international football as a “huge loss” for the national team, though he acknowledged that the decision is understandable. In an interview with Radio El Observador, President Milei stated that Argentina faces a major challenge following Messi’s departure, as the team must move forward without its iconic captain. Milei remarked that Messi’s decision to no longer wear the sky-blue and white jersey represents a significant loss, while simultaneously admitting that the decision is entirely comprehensible.
Praising Messi’s contributions to Argentine football, Milei added, “He has gifted us immense magic.” The President of Argentina also highlighted the major challenge facing the national team following Messi’s departure. He described it as a huge loss and a challenge to rebuild the squad. He likened the absence of the Rosario-born star to losing the “strongest card” in Truco, a traditional Argentine card game.
