‘No one else like him’: Argentinians rally for Lionel Messi

What the report says

Residents of Buenos Aires and football supporters across Argentina are reacting to Lionel Messi’s announcement that he is retiring from international football after two decades with the national team, according to Al Jazeera. The report says the news prompted murals, banners and illuminated landmarks in Argentina’s blue and white, as fans gathered in places such as La Boca to celebrate the country’s most prominent football figure. The Argentine Football Association is also planning a farewell match, though no date was given.

Messi, now 39, posted a handwritten farewell message on social media this week after what Al Jazeera described as Argentina’s 1-0 loss to Spain in this year’s World Cup final. The publication reported that he said he had "nothing else to give" and that the decision was painful, though he felt the time had come. His exit follows a career in which he went from long-criticized star to national symbol after helping Argentina win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The article places Messi’s retirement in the broader context of Argentine football and national identity. It notes that he finished his international career as Argentina’s record appearance maker and scorer, with 125 goals in 207 matches, and that tributes have come from teammates including Ángel Di María and Rodrigo De Paul. Al Jazeera also said his departure leaves questions about the team’s future and about Argentine football more generally, including ongoing concerns surrounding the national association.