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Sanjay Dave, AhmedabadWhen a football match is going on anywhere in the world, if the team of Argentina is playing on the field, the eyes of millions of spectators are looking for only one number. It is the number 10. Lionel Messi, the hero player of millions of fans who has magical talent on the field wearing the t-shirt of this number, is seen playing the match on the field. To this extent, a player who is rarely seen by the public love of a football player is Lionel Messi…
Lionel Messi’s retirement from international football is not just Argentina’s loss, it is the departure of one of the greatest eras in world football. At the age of 39, Messi has now retired from Argentina’s national team after 21 extraordinary years. His final international appearance came in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final, where Argentina lost 1–0 in extra time to Spain. He leaves with 207 caps and 125 goals, both records for Argentina. Importantly, Messi has not completely retired from football and continues his club career with Inter Miami.
Messi’s statistical legacy is almost impossible to match. It holds a significant record of major records, more than a single official number of “world records”. Messi is Argentina’s most capped player and leading scorer. At the FIFA World Cup, he holds the records for most appearances, most minutes played, most player of the match awards and most knockout stage assists. He is also the first player to score in a World Cup in his teens, twenties and thirties, and the first player to score in six consecutive knockout matches. His six World Cup appearances is another historic achievement. In that tournament, he finished with 21 goals and 12 assists, making him one of the most prolific players in World Cup history.
Messi’s Qatar 2022 World Cup was a particularly memorable match. Messi scored seven goals in seven appearances, including two in the dramatic final against France. He won the Golden Ball and finally lifted the World Cup trophy, completing a journey that included heartbreaking defeats and intense criticism. That victory transformed his international career from unfulfilled expectations to a legend of resilience.
His last World Cup in 2026 was statistically equally significant. Messi scored eight goals and provided four assists in seven matches, winning the Silver Ball and helping Argentina reach another final. Although Argentina did not retain the trophy, he ended his World Cup career with 21 goals in 34 matches. Few players have combined longevity, consistency, creativity and leadership at this level.
For world football, Messi’s absence will be a huge loss. He wasn’t just a goal scorer. He was a playmaker, captain, entertainer and inspiration whose left foot could change a match in seconds. Millions watched Argentina as Messi wore the number 10 shirt. Young players everywhere tried to emulate his dribbling, passing and finishing. India has also produced famous footballers, although the global gap is significant. Sunil Chhetri is India’s greatest modern icon and finished with 95 international goals. Other famous names include Baichung Bhutia, I. M. Vijayan, Gurpreet Singh Sandhu, Sandesh Jhingan, Shabbir Ali and Climax Lawrence.
So Messi’s retirement represents a bigger loss than a vacancy in Argentina’s squad. It creates an emotional void in football. In the coming days, many new stars will emerge in football matches around the world, but it is impossible to replace Messi because greatness is not only measured in goals and trophies. It is measured by memories. Messi has given football generations unforgettable moments and his international departure marks the end of an extraordinary chapter. His influence transcends borders, languages ​​and cultures, due to which the Argentine captain has become a universal sporting symbol of the game of football for millions of people around the world. And that is why it can be said that the love of Lionel Messi, his love will always be alive in the hearts of many football lovers around the world, crossing the borders of his own country