‘World Cup Won’t Be the Same Without You’, Mourinho Hails Messi
Real Madrid Manager José Mourinho has joined a growing list of football personalities paying tribute to Lionel Messi after the Argentina captain announced his retirement from International football.
Messi confirmed his decision on Monday, August 31, 2026, in a statement published on his official Instagram account, bringing uncertainty over his future with the Argentine National team and marking what could be the end of one of the most remarkable International careers in football history.
The 39-year-old forward explained that the decision was not easy and that it had caused him considerable emotional pain, but he had reached the conclusion that it was the right time to step away from the national team.
“After all this time since the final match, and after much thought, I want to announce to everyone that I have decided to retire from playing with the national team,” Messi wrote.
“It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul, but I understand that it is the right time,” he added.
Messi insisted that his commitment to Argentina had remained unwavering throughout his International career, including during the difficult periods when the team failed to win major trophies.
“I swear I always gave everything, not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too,” the Argentine captain said.
“I always fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you happiness and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.”
His announcement immediately triggered emotional reactions from supporters and prominent figures within the football community.
Among those to respond was Mourinho, who praised Messi’s achievements and described his international career as unforgettable.
The Portuguese coach took to the comment section of Messi’s Instagram announcement and wrote:
“Congratulations on a wonderful and unforgettable international career.”
Mourinho then highlighted the enormous impact Messi has had on international football, warning that the next major tournaments would feel different without the Argentine superstar.
“The next Copa America and the next World Cup will not be the same in your absence as they were before,” Mourinho wrote.
Messi’s International career has been characterised by extraordinary individual performances, major disappointments and, eventually, historic success.
For several years, the forward faced intense criticism whenever Argentina failed to win a major trophy. Despite his outstanding performances, the national team suffered a series of painful defeats in important competitions.
That narrative changed when Messi finally led Argentina to international glory.
He played a key role in Argentina’s Copa América triumph in 2021, ending the Country’s long wait for a major senior men’s International trophy.
The biggest achievement of his career came a year later when Argentina defeated France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final in Qatar.
Messi scored twice in the dramatic final before Argentina eventually prevailed on penalties, securing the World Cup trophy that had eluded him throughout his career.
The triumph was particularly significant because Messi had previously endured comparisons with Argentina’s legendary former captain Diego Maradona, with critics often pointing to the absence of a World Cup title from his collection.
Winning the tournament changed that narrative and further strengthened his claim as one of football’s greatest-ever players.
Messi subsequently helped Argentina retain their status as one of international football’s dominant teams by winning the 2024 Copa América.
Those achievements cemented his legacy with the national team and provided a remarkable conclusion to a career that had once been defined by near misses at international level.
His decision to retire now means Argentina will have to prepare for a future without the player who has been the team’s most recognisable figure and attacking leader for almost two decades.
Messi’s absence will also be felt across international football, particularly at the Copa América and FIFA World Cup, where his presence has been one of the major attractions for fans around the world.
Mourinho’s message reflects the sentiment of millions of football supporters who have watched Messi dominate the sport’s biggest stages for years.
Although Argentina possesses a new generation of talented players, replacing Messi’s goals, creativity, leadership and influence will be an enormous challenge.
Global Mirror News gathered that Messi’s international retirement has also reignited discussions about his overall legacy, with his achievements for Argentina now standing alongside his extraordinary club career.
During his career, Messi has collected numerous domestic and continental honours, while also winning multiple individual awards and establishing himself as one of the most influential footballers of his generation.
For Argentina, his departure represents the beginning of a new era.
The national team will now have to develop its next generation of leaders while attempting to maintain the high standards established during Messi’s time as captain.
Whether or not Messi eventually changes his mind remains to be seen, but his latest statement makes his intention clear: he believes the time has come to close the international chapter of his legendary career.
As Mourinho noted, the next Copa América and World Cup are unlikely to feel quite the same without the man who has provided some of the most memorable moments in Argentina’s modern football history.
Messi leaves behind a remarkable International legacy and a National team that will now have the difficult task of moving forward without its iconic captain.
