"It was a decision that hurt – and still hurts deep down – but I understand that the time has come." With those words, 39-year-old Lionel Messi said goodbye to the national team after defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final and 207 appearances. An era is over.
The fate of the legendary number 10 shirt now rests on the new contract of head coach Lionel Scaloni. If a deal is struck, it will go to 21-year-old Nico Paz, who has already scored 19 goals for Italian side Como. Messi, though, made up his mind to leave as far back as 21 July, releasing the statement only after the death of his father. The weight of that inheritance now falls on the shoulders of a younger generation.
