Lionel Messi has shared another emotional message with Argentina supporters following his final appearance for the national team, bringing a reflective tone to the end of an extraordinary international career.
Two days after wearing the famous blue-and-white shirt for the final time, Messi returned to social media with a short but powerful message of gratitude.
“Everything has been said. And now, everything is done. And the only words that come from the bottom of my heart are: Thank you, Argentina.” Messi wrote.
The 39-year-old accompanied the message with a photograph of himself holding the special Argentina shirt associated with his farewell. The shirt carries added significance after Messi’s final appearance for the national team at Buenos Aires’ Estadio Monumental.
Messi closes the Argentina chapter
Messi’s international farewell took place on 6 October when Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 in front of a packed Monumental.
It was a fitting final performance for a player whose Argentina career stretched across more than two decades. Messi scored from the penalty spot and played a decisive role in the other two goals, assisting Nicolás Otamendi and Nico Paz.
The match brought the curtain down on a 21-year international journey that included some of the most important moments in Argentine football history.
Messi finishes his Argentina career as the country’s most-capped player, with 208 appearances, while his 126 international goals also stand as an Argentine record. His greatest achievements with the national team include the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2024 Copa América.
From heartbreak to becoming Argentina’s hero
Messi’s relationship with the Argentina national team was not always straightforward.
For years, the forward carried enormous expectations from supporters who compared him with previous Argentine greats, particularly Diego Maradona. International disappointments, including defeats in major finals, placed additional pressure on Messi during the early and middle stages of his international career.
That story eventually changed.
The Copa América triumph in 2021 ended Argentina’s long wait for a major senior international trophy. A year later, Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar, completing one of the most important chapters of his career.
Another Copa América triumph followed in 2024, further cementing his status in Argentine football.
His farewell therefore represented more than the end of a player’s international career. It marked the closing of a journey that moved from intense criticism and disappointment to national celebration and admiration.
Messi had already opened his heart to supporters
Messi’s latest post follows another emotional message he published after his final match.
He explained that he already missed wearing the Argentina shirt but remained convinced that retiring from international football was the right decision.
He also thanked his family, friends, teammates, coaches and the clubs that allowed him to represent Argentina throughout his career. Messi additionally remembered Maradona and the influence he believes the Argentine legend continued to have on the national team.
The latest message was considerably shorter, but its meaning was unmistakable.
After 21 years, 208 appearances, 126 goals and a collection of international trophies that once seemed out of reach, Messi’s message was simply one of gratitude.
Thank you, Argentina.
What comes next for Messi?
Although his Argentina career has ended, Messi’s professional football journey is not over.
The superstar remains a player for Inter Miami, with his current contract running through December 2028. His attention will now turn back towards club football and the remainder of the MLS season.
For Argentina, however, the post-Messi era has officially begun.
For supporters who watched his entire journey, the final chapter could hardly have been more fitting: a packed Monumental, an Argentina victory, another goal from their legendary No. 10 and, ultimately, two simple words that captured the emotion of an entire nation.
Gracias, Leo.
