Lionel Messi international retirement: See reactions from Argentina teammates ft. Rodrigo De Paul & Angel Di Maria
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Messi’s reaction has sent shockwaves throughout Argentine football.
Lionel Messi stunned the footballing world by announcing his retirement from international football on Monday, August 31, 2026. The 39-year-old brought down the curtain on his international career, having scored an incredible 125 goals in 207 senior appearances for La Albiceleste.
The Argentine skipper led his country to FIFA World Cup glory in 2022. He also powered his nation to the World Cup final in 2026 in North America, but ultimately lost to Spain. Regardless, Messi retires as one of the most prolific international goalscorers of all time.
He is the all-time top scorer for La Albiceleste as well as the second-highest scorer in all of international football. He is also the second-highest goalscorer in FIFA World Cup history with 21 goals in six editions.
Messi’s retirement has led to a wave of support and commemoration from his current and former national teammates. Let’s look at some of them.
Also Read: Lionel Messi announces retirement from international football
Rodrigo De Paul
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Rodrigo De Paul, who played with Messi in the national team as well as in Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, was among the first to wish Messi on his retirement. The midfielder posted a lengthy message in support of his former international captain.
“Your unconditional love for our country, your internal battles to never give up, your strength to always endure injustices, your leadership and human quality with every player who entered the grounds to make them feel good, the details with every worker of our team…” he wrote.
“Just thank you, the greatest of all time, thank you for making us so, so happy, you can’t imagine how many smiles you brought!! You are eternal.”
Angel Di Maria
Angel Di Maria, who currently plays for Rosario Central, reposted Messi’s announcement with the caption, “Thank you, Eternal Captain.”
Cristian Romero
Atletico Madrid defender Cristian Romero posted a heartwarming message in support of Messi, writing, “I love you, I admire you, and I will always be grateful for everything you did for our country. Thank you so much, captain.”
Nicolas Tagliafico
Lyon left-back Nicolas Tagliafico, who represented Argentina in the FIFA World Cup 2026 alongside Messi, wrote, “Forever grateful.”
Leandro Paredes
Another member of the FIFA World Cup squad, Leandro Paredes wrote, “Thank you for absolutely everything!!! You are and always will be the greatest of all! We love you, captain.”
Giovani Lo Celso
Giovani Lo Celso, who plays for Real Betis in LaLiga, also posted a tribute to Messi on his Instagram account.
“Your legacy will be eternal. Thank you for teaching us so much and guiding us on this path both on and off the field. Every word falls short to thank you for what you gave to the Argentine fans. We are blessed to have shared so many things with you,” he wrote.
“Thank you for everything captain. We love you.”
Geronimo Rulli
Geronimo Rulli, who recently joined Manchester City, posted a story on Instagram about Messi’s impact on the Argentine players.
“You are eternal, not only for what you gave us as a player, but because you showed us the path of resilience, hard work, camaraderie, and above all, love for our country,” Rulli wrote. “Thank you for giving me the opportunity to know Leo, the human being, not the player. We will miss you very much.”
Enzo Fernandez
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez shared an image of himself carrying Messi on his shoulders, adding a lengthy caption in support of the veteran forward.
Lautaro Martinez
Inter Milan striker Lautaro Martinez also posted a lengthy message in honour of Messi.
Giuliano Simeone
Giuliano Simeone, who currently plays for Atletico Madrid, also took to Instagram to pay tribute to Messi.
When did Lionel Messi announce his international retirement?
Messi announced his retirement on Monday, August 31, 2026, ending his Argentina career with 125 goals in 207 appearances.
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