FIFA president Gianni Infantino pays tribute to Lionel Messi after international retirement
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has paid tribute to Lionel Messi following the Argentine superstar's decision to retire from international football after more than two decades representing his country.
In a message shared on social media, Infantino congratulated Messi for an exceptional international career and praised the lasting influence he has had on football and its supporters around the world.
Infantino highlighted several of Messi's achievements with Argentina, including his role in winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He also pointed to Messi's status as Argentina's all-time leading appearance maker and top scorer, as well as his record number of appearances at the World Cup.
The FIFA president also praised Messi's technical ability and humility, saying that his contribution to the sport would remain part of football's history. He thanked the Argentine forward for the memories created while wearing the national team's shirt and for bringing supporters together across the world.
Messi announced his international retirement after a 21-year career with Argentina. His time with the national team included major successes, although it also featured difficult periods, particularly after Argentina lost three consecutive finals at the 2014 World Cup and the 2015 and 2016 Copa América tournaments.
The forward eventually returned to international duty and went on to achieve some of the biggest milestones of his career. Argentina won the Copa América in 2021 and 2024 before lifting the World Cup in 2022.
Messi's decision marks the end of an era for Argentina's national team. After years of carrying enormous expectations, the 39-year-old has now chosen to close his international chapter while leaving behind a record of achievements that has made him one of the most influential players in football history.
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