Tributes Pour In After Messi Announces Argentina Retirement: ‘Thank You, Impossible Man’

Lionel Messi’s farewell from Argentina’s national team has prompted an outpouring of gratitude from teammates, clubs, officials and football organizations around the world.

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Thank you very much, impossible man.

Messi said the decision had already taken shape two days after Argentina’s 0-1 defeat to Spain in this summer’s World Cup final. He said his father, Jorge, who had supported him throughout his career, gave him the final confirmation that it was time to leave when he died on Aug. 8.

The forward leaves as Argentina’s record holder for both appearances and goals. He played 207 matches in the national shirt and scored 125 goals. His international achievements include Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph and Copa América victories in 2021 and 2024.

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We will be grateful to you for life for being Argentine and for taking Argentina to the top of the world.

Argentina’s players and institutions framed the departure as the end of an extraordinary era. President Javier Milei wrote, “Thank you very much, impossible man.” Ángel Di María, Messi’s national-team teammate for almost 20 years, said, “We will be grateful to you for life for being Argentine and for taking Argentina to the top of the world.” Leandro Paredes added, “Thank you for absolutely everything. You are and always will be the greatest of them all. We love you, captain.”

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Thank you for absolutely everything. You are and always will be the greatest of them all. We love you, captain.

Rodrigo De Paul called Messi “the greatest of all time” and said he had brought Argentina countless smiles, while Lautaro Martínez offered “eternal thanks” to the captain. Argentina’s team, South America’s football confederation, Paris Saint-Germain and River Plate also posted tributes, with the national team saying, “We will love you until the end of our days.”

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We will love you until the end of our days.