Three key Argentina national team players, Rodrigo De Paul, Leandro Paredes and Nicolás Tagliafico, paid tribute to Lionel Messi following his retirement from international football. The emotional messages, posted on Instagram on August 31, highlight the captain's human and sporting legacy.
Rodrigo De Paul, a key midfielder in the world champion team, shared an Instagram story addressed to his friend. "Thank you for your unconditional love for our country, your inner battles to never give up and your strength in the face of injustice," wrote the Inter Miami player. His message ended by recognizing the "greatest player of all time," thanking him for the happiness given to an entire nation.
Leandro Paredes sent a direct message to his captain. The midfielder stated that words fall short before Messi's greatness, both as a player and a person. "I was incredibly fortunate to share this beautiful journey with our national team," expressed Paredes, who signed off with an affectionate "I love you, shorty." Nicolás Tagliafico opted for simplicity, posting a photo of an embrace with Messi and the phrase "Thank you forever."
Messi's retirement comes at a time of transition for the national side, already focused on defending their title at the FIFA World Cup 2026. The albiceleste, managed by Lionel Scaloni, leads their South American qualifying group with a perfect record. The team blends experience and youth, with figures like Emiliano Martínez in goal and Julián Álvarez in attack.
The core of the team that achieved glory in Qatar 2022 remains, but the absence of its greatest figure presents a new collective challenge. Upcoming preparation matches, visible on our fixtures schedule, will be key to testing dynamics without the historic number ten.
The homages were not limited to his dressing room colleagues. Club River Plate posted on social media a photo of a fan at the Monumental Stadium wearing Argentina's number 10 shirt with a thank you sign. The institution from Núñez also shared several images of Messi's most outstanding moments at that venue, acknowledging his special connection with the Argentine public.
These gestures reflect the transversal impact of Messi's career, which transcended the strictly sporting sphere to become a national symbol. His influence extended to all generations of footballers and fans, unifying the country behind the albiceleste shirt.
Argentina is tackling the qualifying process with solidity, having won all their matches to date. The standings table shows a comfortable lead, but the team cannot become complacent. The schedule includes tough duels against direct rivals for spots in the tournament to be held in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The mission now is to maintain the high competitive level and build a new attacking identity. Players like Alejandro Garnacho, coming off a great season at Manchester United, are seen as part of the generational shift. The coaching staff must find the best way to distribute the creative responsibility that fell almost exclusively on Messi.
The team's stats show a positive balance, with a solid defense and effective associative play. The challenge will be to sustain those numbers without their main reference. The renewal process is already underway, with sights set on defending the world title in North America.
