Alejandro Domínguez tells Messi: “Your legacy will be eternal”
Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.
At a glance
Newswire
From a news agency
Outcome reported
- Conmebol president Alejandro Domínguez thanked Lionel Messi after the Argentina captain announced his retirement from the national team at age 39.
- Messi said he had reached the point where he had nothing more to give, nearly two months after Argentina lost the 2026 World Cup final to Spain.
- Messi leaves the team after more than 200 appearances, 125 goals and 68 assists, according to the report.
Alejandro Domínguez answered Lionel Messi’s retirement from Argentina’s national team with a tribute focused on the forward’s influence far beyond his trophies.
Dear Leo: today we can only thank you for so many years defending your country’s shirt with pride, dreaming big and taking Argentine and South American football to the highest level.
“Dear Leo: today we can only thank you for so many years defending your country’s shirt with pride, dreaming big and taking Argentine and South American football to the highest level,” Domínguez wrote on X. The Conmebol president called it an honour to witness the player’s extraordinary career and said Messi represented the continent and the wider world.
“Your legacy will be eternal, not only because of everything you achieved, but also because of the person you are and the values you have always conveyed: humility, respect, commitment and love for football,” Domínguez added, ending with “simply, thank you, Leo!”
Your legacy will be eternal, not only because of everything you achieved, but also because of the person you are and the values you have always conveyed: humility, respect, commitment and love for football.
Messi announced his decision in an emotional Instagram message. “I have emptied myself, I have nothing more to give, and there are also some very good young players coming through who deserve to be there,” he wrote. He said the decision hurt deeply but that he understood the time had come.
I have emptied myself, I have nothing more to give, and there are also some very good young players coming through who deserve to be there.
The forward said he was leaving with the peace of mind and pride of having given Argentina’s supporters their “dreamed-of moments.” He had played more than 200 matches for the national team, scoring 125 goals and providing 68 assists. The report said the death of his father earlier in the month helped convince him to leave the national side.
It was a decision that hurt and still hurts in my soul, but I understand that the time has come.
About this summary
Originally published by ABC Color in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.
More Stories
From Our Blog
What Gets Lost (and Found) When News Is Translated
The Critical Role of Diaspora Media in Global News
What Travellers Should Know About Countries with Restricted Press
A Digital Nomad's Guide to Following Local News
How the Same Story Looks Different in Different Countries
