Lionel Messi has paid tribute to Argentina legend Diego Maradona and his late father, Jorge Messi, following what was described as his final appearance for the national team.
Reflecting on the emotional occasion in an Instagram post on Wednesday, Messi admitted that he already missed wearing Argentina’s famous sky-blue-and-white shirt but remained confident he was making the right decision.
The 39-year-old described his international career as an incredible journey filled with moments of happiness and difficult challenges, insisting that every step had been worthwhile.
Messi also remembered Maradona, one of the most revered figures in Argentine football, for his immense contribution to the country’s footballing identity.
He also paid a deeply personal tribute to his father, who died on August 8, 2026, aged 68, following a long illness.
Alongside a photograph of himself wearing the Argentina shirt and looking towards the sky, Messi reflected on how much he and his family missed his father during the emotional night.
Messi had also spoken about his father during his on-field farewell following Argentina’s 3-0 victory over Benin, revealing that his first thought amid the emotions of the occasion was of his late father.
The Argentina captain also thanked his family, friends, teammates, coaches and the clubs that supported his international career, while expressing gratitude to God and the country’s supporters.
Messi 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 supporters.
The appearance was Messi’s 208th for Argentina, bringing an emotional end to a 21-year international career in which he became the country’s most-capped player and all-time leading scorer.
His farewell, and the tributes to Maradona and his father, added an especially personal touch to the closing chapter of one of the greatest international careers in football history.
