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"I emptied myself, I have nothing more to give"... With those words Lionel Messi, for many the greatest footballer in history, announced this Monday his retirement from the Argentina national team after 21 years and four titles, including the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Below are the main reactions to the farewell announcement from the 39-year-old star:
The Argentina national team:
"Eternal thanks, Leo. We will love you until the end of our days."
Gianni Infantino, FIFA president:
"Thank you for giving millions of football fans so much joy. You are retiring from international football as a FIFA World Cup champion and as one of the best players our sport has ever had. I wish you the best."
The Olympic Games:
"Your legacy will be eternal (...). We are blessed to have been able to share so many things by your side. THANK YOU FOR SO MUCH CAPTAIN, WE LOVE YOU."
Conmebol:
"A very great history."
Major League Soccer:
"21 years. 207 appearances. A legendary career with Argentina."
UEFA:
"Historic national career."
Antonela Roccuzzo, wife:
"What pride to have been by your side on this journey and to see you fulfill all your dreams. You deserved this story and much more. We love you infinitely."
Rodrigo De Paul, teammate at Inter Miami and on the national team:
"Your unconditional love for our country, your internal battles to never give up, your strength to always endure injustices, your leadership and human quality with every player who entered the facilities so that they would feel good, the details with every worker on our national team... Just thank you, the greatest of all time, thank you for making us so, so happy, you have no idea how many smiles you brought out!! You are eternal."
Enzo Fernández, former national team teammate:
"You always had a word, advice, a hug, or simply a way of making me feel calm when I needed it. I will never forget that. Today it's hard for me to imagine the next training camp without you. Walking onto the pitch and not seeing you in front, with the number 10. It was so many years watching you there that it seems impossible to think of it any other way. How lucky I was, Leo."
Leandro Paredes, former national team teammate:
"Thank you for absolutely everything. You are and will always be the greatest of all. We love you captain."
Cristian "Cuti" Romero, former national team teammate:
"I love you, I admire you, and I will always be grateful for everything you left for me and for our country. Eternal thanks, captain."
Ángel Di María, former national team teammate:
"We will be grateful to you for our whole lives for being Argentine and for having carried Argentina to the highest point in the world. For having chosen to be Argentine when you could have chosen something else. Thank you for everything."
Gerónimo Rulli, former national team teammate:
"Thank you for giving me the chance to know Leo, the human being. You are eternal. But not only for what you gave us as a player, but because you showed us the path of resilience, hard work, companionship, and above all, love for our country. We will miss you very much."
Lisandro Martínez, former national team teammate:
"It is a huge sadness (...) With all my heart, thank you. You are the best footballer in history."
Giovanni Lo Celso, former national team teammate:
"Your legacy will be eternal (...). We are blessed to have been able to share so many things by your side. THANK YOU FOR SO MUCH CAPTAIN, WE LOVE YOU."
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Newell's Old Boys, the club where Messi played in the youth ranks and which he supports:
"Thank you, Leo," they wrote in a social media message along with a photo of Messi kissing the World Cup trophy won in Qatar.
Franco Colapinto, Argentine F1 driver:
"There are no words of thanks that will ever be enough... We are lucky to have had you and enjoyed you for so long. Thank you for having gotten up again and again and given everything to make an entire country happy. You are the example for everyone."
Eduardo Sacheri, Argentine writer:
"What do you say to someone who is leaving, after having gifted you talent, joy, sacrifice, companionship, dedication, and humility for so many years? Thank you, Messi. Thank you for what went well, thank you for what went wrong, thank you for being there, thank you for returning. Thank you, skinny. Thank you for everything."
[Publicidad]