Neymar Pays Heartfelt Tribute to Messi Ahead of His Farewell Match
Neymar's Emotional Message for Messi
Brazilian football star Neymar Jr shared a touching message for Argentine legend Lionel Messi as he prepares for his final international appearance. Messi, who declared his retirement from international football on September 1, is set to don his national colors one last time against Benin on Tuesday.
In an Instagram post, Neymar, who concluded his international career after the 2026 FIFA World Cup and played alongside Messi at both Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG), expressed that anyone who appreciates football has enjoyed Messi's contributions over the years. He conveyed his hope that Messi relishes his final match, stating, "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."
Neymar acknowledged Messi's impact on the sport, thanking him for deepening his love for football. He remarked, "It is 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 honour to have played against you, and even more so to have made history alongside you."
Messi's Remarkable International Journey
Messi's announcement of his international retirement came just over a month after Argentina's narrow 1-0 defeat to Spain in the World Cup final and shortly after the passing of his father, Jorge Messi, who died on August 8 at the age of 68 in Rosario, Argentina.
As Argentina's most-capped player and top scorer, Messi boasts an impressive record with 203 appearances and 124 goals, making him the highest goal-scorer in South American football history.
In 2022, after enduring several disappointments, including the 2014 World Cup final loss to Germany, Messi finally achieved World Cup success, leading Argentina to victory over France, powered by Kylian Mbappe, in the final. This marked Argentina's first World Cup win in 36 years and their third overall, according to ESPN. Additionally, Messi played a crucial role in ending Argentina's 28-year title drought by winning the Copa America in 2021 and successfully defending the title in the 2024 edition.
Previously, Messi had announced his retirement from international play in 2016 after a Copa America final loss to Chile but reversed his decision, ultimately guiding Argentina to World Cup glory six years later in Qatar. Over his career, he participated in six FIFA World Cups from 2006 to 2026, scoring 21 goals in 34 matches, making him the second-highest goal-scorer in the tournament's history, just behind France's Mbappe, who holds the record with 22 goals.
During this year's World Cup, Messi scored eight goals and provided four assists, solidifying his status as one of the tournament's standout players, which included his first FIFA World Cup hat-trick against Algeria. He also surpassed Germany's Miroslav Klose's record for the most FIFA World Cup goals before Mbappe reclaimed the top spot.
Currently, Messi continues to play for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS).