‘In my heart until I die’: Argentina says a tearful thank you to Lionel Messi

<p>The Argentinian’s decision to quit international football was met by an outpouring of affection from the country he led to World Cup glory in 2022</p><p>Anyone who was present at Lionel Scaloni’s press conference immediately after the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/jul/19/spain-win-world-cup-argentina-final-match-report">World Cup final between Spain and Argentina</a> in New Jersey on 19 July and saw his tears, the sobs which prevented him from speaking while he got up and walked out, could tell this was a man weeping not because of defeat in a single match but because he was fully aware that what that particular group of men had been through for the past eight years had come to an end.</p><p>Messi’s announcement that he is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/aug/31/lionel-messi-retires-from-international-football-argentina">retiring from international football</a>, posted on Instagram on Monday complete with photos of three handwritten sheets of some anonymous yet corporate-looking headed paper and a Harry Potter Time Turner pen, to the soundtrack of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yWTRuc5nUxg">Brindis sung by Soledad Pastorutti</a>, instantly dominated the news and unleashed a barrage of homages, gratitude and joy from all corners. But it’s not exactly a surprise.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/sep/01/argentina-tearful-thank-you-to-lionel-messi-retirement">Continue reading...</a>