In a touching message, Messi bids farewell to Argentina and invokes Maradona

Lionel Messi concluded his international career with Argentina with an emotional message, reminiscing about the highlights of his time with his country and paying special tribute to Argentine football legend Diego Maradona, just hours after his final appearance for the national team. The 39-year-old Messi posted a message on his Instagram account, reflecting on his long journey with Argentina and expressing his gratitude to his family and everyone who accompanied him throughout his career. He then focused on Maradona's legacy and his historic role with the national team. The former Argentine captain noted that Maradona helped elevate Argentine football to its rightful place, emphasizing that his influence remained present in the team's history both during his lifetime and after his passing. Messi and Maradona played together at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, when Maradona was the coach of the Argentine national team, and Messi was one of the key players in that young squad. In his message, Messi wrote that he truly misses wearing the Argentine jersey, emphasizing that his decision to retire from international football came after a 21-year journey filled with both joyous and challenging moments, but he believes it was all worthwhile. Messi's final appearance for Argentina was against Benin on Tuesday in a friendly match at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires, where he scored one goal and provided two assists, contributing to his country's 3-0 victory and bringing his international career to a close. During his time with Argentina, Messi won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, while Maradona led the team to victory in 1986 in Mexico, cementing their legacy as prominent figures in Argentine football history. Messi's message garnered widespread attention on social media, including from Cristiano Ronaldo, who sent a message of appreciation to his long-time rival, praising his contributions to his national team and his illustrious career with Argentina. Ronaldo said that Messi defended his country's colors for many years and left a legacy that will remain in the memory of football, expressing his respect for what the player achieved with the Argentine national team.