Gianni Infantino Honors Lionel Messi's Remarkable International Career
Tribute to a Football Legend
In Zurich, FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his admiration for Lionel Messi, the Argentine football icon, following Messi's announcement to retire from international play. Infantino highlighted Messi's extraordinary contributions to the sport and his lasting legacy.
Messi shared his retirement news via Instagram on Monday, revealing that his decision came shortly after Argentina's defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. He also mentioned that the passing of his father, Jorge Messi, played a significant role in his choice.
Infantino took to Instagram to commend Messi's illustrious international career, emphasizing his 2022 World Cup victory, record-setting appearances, and goals for Argentina, as well as his profound influence on football.
He stated, "Congratulations @leomessi on an extraordinary international career which has inspired millions and redefined the beautiful game. A FIFA World Cup winner in 2022, Argentina's all-time leader for appearances and goals as well as the record holder for the most FIFA World Cup appearances in history, your magical talent and humility will be remembered forever."
Messi's Impact on Football
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Infantino expressed gratitude for the unforgettable moments Messi provided while donning the Argentine jersey and for his ability to unite fans worldwide.
"Thank you for every unforgettable memory while wearing the colours of @afaseleccion and for uniting fans across every corner of the globe. I wish you all the very best for your next chapter," he added.
Messi's Emotional Farewell
Messi's retirement announcement came over a month after Argentina's narrow 1-0 loss 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.
In a heartfelt statement, Messi reflected, "After all this time since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to tell everyone that I’m retiring from the national team. It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep inside, but I understand that this is the right moment."
"I swear I always gave everything, not only in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too. I always fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you happiness and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football," he continued.
He acknowledged the emotional weight of this decision, stating that he had given everything he could and recognized the emergence of younger talents who deserve their chance.
"There is not much time left, and different chapters are coming to an end. This is one that hurts me a lot. I love, I loved, and I will always love being part of the national team. I gave everything I had, and I don’t have anything more to give. Also, there are great young players coming through who deserve to be here," he expressed.
Messi's Record-Breaking Career
As Argentina's most-capped player and top scorer, Messi boasts an impressive record of 203 appearances and 124 goals. He also holds the title of 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 glory, leading Argentina to victory against France, powered by Kylian Mbappe. This marked Argentina's first World Cup win in 36 years and their third overall.
Prior to this, 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.
Messi had previously announced his retirement from international football in 2016 after a Copa America final defeat to Chile but returned to lead his nation to World Cup success six years later in Qatar.
Over his six World Cup appearances from 2006 to 2026, Messi scored 21 goals in 34 matches, making him the second-highest goal-scorer in the tournament's history, just behind Mbappe, who holds the record with 22 goals.
In the recent World Cup, Messi netted eight goals and provided four assists, showcasing his exceptional performance, which included his first World Cup hat-trick against Algeria. He surpassed Miroslav Klose's record for the most World Cup goals before Mbappe reclaimed the top spot.
Despite his international retirement, Messi will continue to play for his club, Inter Miami, in Major League Soccer.