‘Don’t go’ – Lionel Messi’s Argentina retirement sparks emotional reactions from fans
· Yahoo Sports
Lionel Messi has officially retired from the Argentina senior men’s national football team after a 3-0 win over Benin.
Messi spent 21 years with the national team and is retiring as arguably the greatest sportsman in the history of the country, rivaling the indomitable legacy that Diego Maradona left behind.
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After 126 goals, 69 assists, two Copa America titles, six World Cup appearances, three World Cup finals, and his legend-defining 2022 World Cup win, Messi leaves with his head held high.
Lionel Messi’s retirement has made fans emotional
Messi assisted twice and scored from the penalty spot in this 3-0 win, with fans understandably becoming overcome with emotion after realising that the 39-year-old will not represent the Albiceleste again.
“Messi, please don’t go,” exclaimed one fan.
“LIONEL ANDRES MESSI, ETERNAL THANKS FOR YOUR FOOTBALL,” read the banner in the stadium for Messi’s final game with Argentina.
“You are the greatest example a child up to an adult can have of how to fight and struggle for your dreams until the end, being the best at what you do and always keeping your feet on the ground. Lionel Messi, the day I chose you as my idol, I already knew you would never let me down. Thank you,” said one emotional fan.
“Doubt any other footballer will be receiving a farewell like this ever again from the fans in the stadium to the hundreds of millions of fans watching around the world. Messi is 1 of 1,” remarked a fan.
“Messi is such a genius. He didn’t want all the attention centered on him in his final game for Argentina, so he decided to assist instead of scoring. GOAT mentality,” said another fan.
“Today, it wasn’t just Lionel Messi’s journey with Argentina that came to an end; it was the final period of a great part of football’s history. We will never again see the best and greatest player of this generation on the grand stages of this sport. Everything now is memory. Everything now is remembrance of what moved us so deeply,” said a fan in a long and emotional message.
“Messi still being the best player on the pitch in his retirement match. Good riddance, man,” were the thoughts of another fan.
Lionel Messi’s final career stats with Argentina
Messi made 208 appearances for the Argentina men’s national football team over a 21-year career, which began with a red card in his debut against Hungary in August 2005.
Messi scored 126 goals for the Albiceleste and became their all-time leading scorer while dishing out 69 assists over this span, another Argentinian record.
Messi scored 21 goals at the FIFA World Cup over 34 games, stretching back to his debut in the 2006 edition and his incredible run to the Final in 2026.
Messi won four major titles with the national team. The 2021 Copa America was his first major international title, after which Messi also won the CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions (Finalissima), the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the 2024 Copa America.
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