Argentina's football association to honor Messi in every stadium after national-team retirement

Lionel Messi will be honored across Argentina this weekend. The Argentine Football Association has ordered matches in every category and discipline to stop at the 10th minute of the first half for a minute of applause recognizing his career with the national team.

The tribute will cover men's and women's eleven-a-side football, futsal and beach football. Stadiums equipped with screens will also show an AFA video made after Messi announced his decision. The nearly two-minute film follows different stages of his career in Argentina's blue-and-white shirt and closes with the message: “Thank you for uniting an entire country behind this crest. We will miss you.”

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Thank you for uniting an entire country behind this crest. We will miss you.

Messi, the Albiceleste's captain and No. 10, announced his retirement in a handwritten letter. “I emptied myself, I have nothing more to give, and besides, some very talented young players are coming through who deserve to be there,” he wrote.

He made more than 200 appearances for Argentina, scoring 125 goals and providing 68 assists from 2005 through the 2026 World Cup final, where Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain. His international honors include the 2022 World Cup, Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, and the 2022 Finalissima, as well as the 2005 Under-20 World Cup and Olympic gold in 2008.

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I emptied myself, I have nothing more to give, and besides, some very talented young players are coming through who deserve to be there.