Argentina To Pause League’s Matches In Honour Of Retired Messi

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has announced that all domestic league matches this weekend will be halted in the 10th minute for a minute of applause in honour of Lionel Messi following the Argentina captain’s retirement from international football.

Messi, 39, confirmed on Monday that he was stepping away from the national team after a glittering international career spanning more than two decades.

The former Argentina No. 10 made his final appearance for the country in July, when Argentina were beaten by Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

“In tribute and homage to Lionel Messi’s career with the Argentina national team, at the 10th minute of play in all matches the referees will stop the game and a general minute of applause will be held,” the AFA said in a statement on Thursday.

Messi retires as Argentina’s most-capped player, having made a record 207 appearances and scored 125 goals. He also captained La Albiceleste to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022 and won two Copa America titles.

His decision marks the second time he has retired from international football. Messi first announced his retirement in 2016 after Argentina lost the Copa America final to Chile, with the forward missing a penalty in the shoot-out.

He subsequently reversed that decision and returned to lead Argentina through one of the most successful periods in the nation’s history.

Messi made his senior international debut in 2005 as a 63rd-minute substitute in a 2-1 friendly victory over Hungary. Despite joining Barcelona’s La Masia academy at the age of 13, he never played senior club football in Argentina.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner leaves the international stage as Argentina’s record goalscorer and appearance holder. He also ranks second on the all-time World Cup scoring chart with 21 goals, behind France’s Kylian Mbappe on 22, while Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo leads the overall international goalscoring list with 146.

Messi’s decision to retire came after he reflected on his future following the death of his father, Jorge, who died aged 68 after a long illness.

The Argentine star said his father’s death had left him “even more convinced than before” that ending his international career was the right decision.

Messi will continue his club career with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, where he is under contract until the end of the 2028 season.