Argentina captain Lionel Messi has paid an emotional tribute to football legend Diego Maradona and his late father, Jorge Messi, following what has been described as his final appearance for the national team.
Messi, reflecting on the occasion in an Instagram post on Wednesday, said he already missed wearing Argentina’s iconic sky-blue-and-white shirt but remained convinced that he had made the right decision.
The 39-year-old described his international career as an “incredible journey” filled with memorable highs and difficult moments, adding that every experience had been worthwhile.
Messi also remembered Maradona, one of the most revered figures in Argentine football, saying he would not forget the former World Cup winner who helped elevate Argentina’s standing in world football. He added that Maradona had supported the national team during his lifetime and continued to do so from “heaven.”
The Argentina captain also dedicated a deeply personal tribute to his father, Jorge, who died on August 8, 2026, aged 68, following a long illness. Sharing a photograph of himself in the Argentina shirt looking towards the sky, Messi wrote: “You don’t know how much we missed you last night…”
Messi had earlier spoken about his father during his emotional farewell after Argentina’s match against Benin, saying his first thought amid the emotions of the occasion was of “mi viejo”, meaning his father.
During the farewell, Messi thanked his family, friends, teammates, coaches and the clubs that supported his international career. He also expressed gratitude to God and Argentina’s supporters for remaining behind the team through its successes and setbacks.
Messi’s reported international farewell came after he scored from the penalty spot and provided two assists as Argentina defeated Benin 3-0 at the Monumental Stadium on Monday, in front of more than 85,000 fans.
The match was Messi’s 208th appearance for Argentina, bringing an emotional close to a 21-year international career in which he became the country’s most-capped player and all-time leading goalscorer.
