Argentina Teammates Flood Messi With Tributes After International Retirement
· Sports · Times of India, Indian Express
Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, prompting emotional tributes from Argentina teammates including Emi Martinez, Angel Di Maria, Rodrigo, Lisandro Martinez, Lautaro Martinez and Leandro Paredes. Goalkeeper Emi Martinez credited Messi for helping him become a world champion, while Di Maria thanked him for choosing Argentina and taking the country "to the top of the world." Lisandro's tribute was especially personal, saying his daughter would be very proud her father shared a team with such an extraordinary human being. Messi made the decision more than a month after Argentina's 1-0 World Cup final loss to Spain and shortly after the death of his father, Jorge Messi.
Why it matters
Messi's exit closes the chapter on a generation of Argentina's 2022 World Cup triumph, with the squad publicly honouring his role as both leader and unifying figure. The timing, coming after the final defeat and his father's death, frames this as an emotional milestone rather than a purely sporting one.
Read the original report — Times of India
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