🚨🚨📲 Leo Messi on IG:
"Yesterday was my final match, and I already miss wearing the sky blue and white. I know I’m making the right decision. It’s been an incredible journey, full of joy and also some sadness, but I know that every step I took was worth it.
"There were still so many things I wanted to say. It’s impossible for me to express everything I feel in just a few words or in one post. This journey would have been impossible without my family, who were always by my side and supported me, especially during the difficult moments when I needed them most. 🙏
"My friends were also essential, as were all the teammates and coaches I had, along with their coaching staffs. I don’t want to forget Diego, who put our country where it deserved to be and who, as I always say, I know helped us by being there with us, also from heaven, every step of the way.
"Thank you to all the clubs I played for, for always respecting my feelings and allowing me to dedicate myself to my country whenever it was time to put on the National Team shirt. And, of course, thanks to God: without His guidance and His will, we wouldn’t even be dreaming of having made it this far.
"I’m grateful. I love you all very much, I’m going to miss you, and I’ll always thank you for being by our side, by my side. 🩵🤍
🥺💙 Pedro has announced his retirement from football 🏁
👟 321 games for Barcelona
⚽️ 99 goals
🅰️ 61 assists
🏆 3x Champions League
🏆 5x La Liga
🏆 3x UEFA Super Cup
🏆 2x Club World Cup
🏆 3x Copa Del Rey
🏆 4x Copa de España
𝑨𝒏 𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒄𝒐𝒏.
🤍 Luka Modrić on Leo Messi: “Leo has done something incredible with the national team, he won the World Cup that he wanted and he's one of the best players in the world”.
“It has been a pleasure watching him play, even though I've suffered a lot against him, both with the national team and at Real Madrid”.
🚨🎙️ LEO MESSI FULL SPEECH:
"I have nothing left to do but thank this shirt. For 20 years, even through the worst moments, I never stopped fighting, pushing forward, giving everything I had and wanting to be here.
"Not coming here anymore and no longer being with the Argentina National Team is going to hurt a lot. If it were up to me, I would love to be here for my entire life, because playing for Argentina is the most beautiful thing there is.
"I think I’m talking more than ever today because I simply don’t want this moment to end.
"But I think the time has come for me to retire. The last World Cup took a lot out of us after everything we went through. We arrived in the final with just enough left in us, but we fought until the very end, like we always did.
"We came very close to winning it again, and despite everything that was said about us, nothing strange happened. The match against England took a lot out of us because we gave absolutely everything.
"In 2022, we had the dream of fulfilling not only my dream, but the dream of an entire country: becoming world champions again. And we did it.
"We won the World Cup, the Copa América, the Finalissima… I’m incredibly grateful for everything I experienced with this National Team.
"But this journey wasn’t only about 2022 or this last World Cup. So many teammates fought alongside me for this shirt long before we finally became world champions. Never doubt how much every one of them fought and gave for Argentina.
"It was a privilege and an honor to share the pitch with all of my teammates and to share so much of our lives together away from football. Every time we stepped onto the pitch, I knew we could compete against anyone because I had warriors beside me who were willing to leave absolutely everything out there.
"To achieve the biggest things, you need a strong group. And it’s during the most difficult moments that you truly discover what kind of team you have. That’s one of the biggest reasons we were able to achieve everything we did.
"And especially to this group: THANK YOU. They helped me fulfill the dream I had since I was a child. They helped me become a world champion.
"I also want to thank the people. I was lucky enough to play in so many cities across Argentina, and everywhere I went, I received an incredible amount of love.
"Throughout all these years, wherever we played in the world, the stadiums were always full of Argentinians. No matter the match or the distance, people made an enormous effort to be there. We know how difficult that is. Wherever we went in the world, it felt like we were playing at home because we could always feel your support.
"And that support has to continue. Difficult moments will come, and those are the moments when you have to support the team more than ever. You need strong, united groups because there will always be people who want to see the National Team fail, and we can’t give them that satisfaction.
"Here, in this stadium, I experienced one of the happiest days of my life: our first match at home after becoming world champions. It was beautiful. And today might be one of the saddest because I’m standing here saying goodbye.
"I’m going to miss all of you so much, but I’ll always be on your side. I’ll be supporting these boys and everyone who comes after them.
"There are so many emotions going through me right now. I’m surely forgetting many things I would like to say because this is a very difficult moment for me. The first person who comes to my mind is my dad.
"I’m going to miss playing here so much. I love you all, and I’m proud to be Argentine.
"I leave grateful, proud and at peace. Thank you for everything.” 🇦🇷❤️
From that gold medal in Beijing in 2008 to an unforgettable career, making history every step of the way with La Albiceleste. 🥇🇦🇷
Congratulations, Leo, for continuing to make Argentina’s jersey even more iconic! 🐐👏
THE END OF A GLORIOUS ERA. 🇦🇷🤍
Today, Lionel Messi closes his legendary chapter with the Albiceleste.
We can only say... THANK YOU, LEO. 🙏
Relive his best records with Argentina on https://t.co/QT90GkXYbE
#ballondor#messi#argentina#leomessi
🚨🌟 𝗡𝗘𝗪: Neymar Jr.’s message to Leo Messi:
"Anyone who loves football has enjoyed watching you throughout all these years…"
"Today is your last game wearing the shirt of your national team, representing your country, and I hope you enjoy every single second of it. I hope all the tributes today make you happy."
"It’s not only Argentina that thanks you, the WHOLE WORLD is grateful for everything you’ve done for football."
"Thank you for making me love football even more. It was an honor to have played against you, and even more so to have made history alongside you."
"THANK YOU, MESSI 🐐 "