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“Football loses part of its soul”: world newspapers react to Messi bombshell

Emotional reactions marked the farewell to Argentina’s legend.

Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football on Monday evening, and sports newspapers across the world portrayed it as the close of an extraordinary chapter in the history of the Argentina national team and world football.

Responses to the unexpected decision ranged from shock over its timing to reflections on his numbers and titles, as well as the void the former Argentina captain will leave behind after more than two decades in the national shirt.

Messi, “39 years old”, delivered the news in an emotional message. He said the decision “pained him and still pains him”, but he felt the moment had arrived, stressing that he had given everything he had to offer and that a new generation deserved its opportunity.

The post-Messi era

Argentine newspaper Olé described 31 August 2026 as a historic date, one that will remain in the country’s memory. It said this was the day Messi sealed “an unrivalled legacy”.

His line, “I gave everything I had,” drew special focus. The paper said it summed up his long journey with the Albiceleste, rather than serving as a cold statement of departure.

Olé also underlined the deeply personal tone of the handwritten message. Messi made it clear that he had loved the national team and always would, and that he would move from being a player on the pitch to a supporter cheering the side from outside, in both the good times and the difficult ones.

Attention then quickly shifted to what follows after Messi. The paper assessed the effect of his exit on Argentina’s short-term planning and on the first squad expected from coach Lionel Scaloni, noting that retirement does not simply bring one player’s story to an end. It also begins a new phase for the national team.

Global bombshell

Spanish newspaper Marca described Messi’s retirement as “a global bombshell”, presenting the decision as the official conclusion of a 21-year career with the Argentina national team, a spell filled with titles and records.

The paper also focused on what his departure means for the future of the national side. Messi’s exit raises even more questions about Argentina’s next stage, from the future of coach Scaloni to the structure of the team’s new leadership. Marca also recalled his international record as a benchmark that will be difficult to match: 207 matches and 125 goals, making him the most-capped player and top scorer in the history of the Argentina national team.

Catalan publication Mundo Deportivo called Messi “the best”, adding: “A bombshell in the world of football. Lionel Messi (39), considered by many to be the best player in the history of the beautiful game, has just announced his retirement from playing for the Argentina national team.”

A painful decision after breaking the trophy curse

Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport approached Messi’s retirement from a human angle, with its headline centring on a decision that was “painful but necessary”.

The paper quoted Messi as saying: “I have nothing left to give, and there are great young players coming who deserve to be here.” It linked the decision to the end of the “Flea’s” era with the national team, pointing out that he leaves Argentina as a world champion and a two-time Copa América winner.

French newspaper L'Équipe concentrated on the sheer length of his international career. Messi is retiring at 39 after more than 20 years with the national team. It cited his own words, saying the decision still hurts him inside, but he believes the time has come.

French website Foot Mercato said Messi’s retirement “closes an important chapter in the history of Argentine football”. It added: “After the bitter defeats in finals, Messi finally broke the curse in 2021, announcing the beginning of a golden era. It culminated in winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.”

In India, The Indian Express carried the headline “Messi retires from international football: football loses part of its soul”. The report said the Argentina legend “ended his career with his country’s national team after failing to defend the World Cup title and the death of his father Jorge”.

Almost in tears: a second retirement?

TNT Sports Argentina said goodbye to Messi with a simple message: “You are a giant, captain.” It accompanied that with footage of analyst Pablo Giralt struggling to hold back tears as he delivered the news to viewers.

The Sun looked back to his first retirement in 2016, using the line: “Messi retires from international football again.” The Telegraph adopted a warmer tone: “Messi ends a brilliant career in the Argentina shirt.”

Germany’s Bild kept its reaction direct: “Footballing surprise: Messi retires from the national team.”

Abola called it “a bombshell in the world of football”, describing Messi’s decision as “the end of an era”.

Die Zeit said Argentina and the wider world were now beginning “a new count of time”, noting that the decision came 43 days after the World Cup final defeat to Spain.

According to the German newspaper, Messi wrote his retirement message on 21 July, just two days after the final, and then delayed making it public. He admitted the decision “pains his soul” but insisted that the time had come.