🚨 BREAKING: There has been a major traffic on all streaming platforms. Lionel Messi’s farewell match has generated over 4 billion people watching world wide.
This has never happened in the history of the sport. 🤯
🚨🎙️ 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.” 🇦🇷❤️
The celebration has already begun in Argentina. They do know how to honor the best player in the world.
Lionel Messi will be missed. To them, today feels like Christmas.
🚨🗣️Lionel Messi: “It’s time. I’m leaving in peace. I’ve given everything I could.
This shirt was my dream, my pride and my life for years.
Thank you for your immense love. Thank you for the support.
I’ll carry you with me always.” 🥹🩵🤍
🚨🗣️ Luis Suarez sends a message to Leo Messi:
"Chubby, I wanted to send you a big hug. I hope you enjoy your last match in your country's jersey so much, that jersey that was so important in your career.
You've lived unbelievable things, and achieved accomplishments that any player dreams of achieving while representing his country.
So you deserve, rightfully, recognition from all people, in appreciation of your career and what you represented for your country. So be very proud of yourself.
I send you a big hug, and enjoy your day." ❤️❤️🫂
🚨🇧🇷 BREAKING: Neymar Jr on IG:
“Anyone who loves football has enjoyed you throughout all these years…
"Today is your final game wearing the shirt of your national team, your country, and I hope you enjoy every second of it and that all the tributes today make you happy.
"It’s not only Argentina that thanks you, the whole world thanks you 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, Leo Messi. 🐐”
🚨Jorge Jesus on Cristiano Ronaldo’s role for Portugal against Denmark:
🗣️ Jorge Jesus: “I respect Cristiano Ronaldo enormously, but respect does not mean he has to be the main character every time Portugal plays. Cristiano is 41 now. He is not the same player he was at 25, 28 or even 32, and pretending otherwise would be unfair to him and unfair to the team. I didn’t call him up because I believe Portugal must play every match around him. I called him because he still has experience, personality and a level of leadership that can be valuable to this group.
“But against Denmark, if I need players to press for 90 minutes, run behind the defence, recover the ball and constantly change positions, I will choose the players who can give me that today. I am not going to put Cristiano on the pitch simply because his name is Ronaldo. That would be managing the reputation of a player rather than managing the national team. If I need him for 20 minutes, he plays 20. If I need him for 30, he plays 30. And if I don’t need him, he can sit beside me and help the younger players understand what it means to represent Portugal.
“Cristiano has already had his time as the player everyone had to build around. He doesn’t need me to pretend otherwise. His greatest contribution now may not be scoring the winning goal or playing every minute. It may be walking into that dressing room, looking at the younger players and telling them what he learned after 20 years at the highest level. That is leadership too. I want him to understand that being important doesn’t always mean being on the pitch.
“And I know some people will be angry because they hear ‘Cristiano Ronaldo’ and immediately think he must play. But I cannot select a player because of his history. I select him because of what he can give me today. Cristiano gave Portugal extraordinary moments, but those moments belong to the past. Against Denmark, I need to win the match in the present. If that means Cristiano starts, he starts. If it means he sits, he sits. Portugal owes Cristiano respect, but Portugal owes the team the truth.”