Argentina started paying tribute to Lionel Messi after the soccer nice introduced his retirement from worldwide soccer earlier this week.The primary tribute got here in the course of the Copa Argentina match between Velez Sarsfield and Boca Juniors on Wednesday, when play was stopped within the tenth minute for a spherical of applause on the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes.Followers throughout the stadium stood and applauded Messi, bringing the sport to a halt for a short second.Two of Messi’s former Argentina teammates, Leandro Paredes and Manuel Lanzini, have been on the pitch in the course of the tribute.The match later ended 0-0, with Boca Juniors successful the penalty shootout 4-3.The tribute follows a call by the Argentine Soccer Affiliation, which introduced that referees will cease play within the tenth minute of each match within the upcoming spherical of the Clausura match, in addition to in different males’s and ladies’s competitions throughout the nation, to honour Messi’s worldwide profession.Messi introduced his worldwide retirement after the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending a profession that lasted 21 years with the Argentina staff.He completed with 125 objectives and 68 assists in 207 appearances for Argentina.In his retirement message, Messi stated the choice “hurts the depths of my soul”, however added that he “is aware of the time has come” to cease representing his nation.Messi’s greatest achievement with Argentina got here when he led the staff to the 2022 FIFA World Cup title in Qatar. He additionally helped Argentina win the Copa America in 2021 and 2024, ending the nation’s 28-year await a significant trophy.Though he’s considered one of Argentina’s greatest sporting icons, Messi has by no means performed membership soccer professionally in his house nation. He moved to Barcelona on the age of 13 and constructed his profession there.Messi has retired solely from worldwide soccer and continues to play membership soccer for Inter Miami in Main League Soccer.
