Published : 04 Sep 2026, 04:12 AM
Updated : 16 Sep 2026, 11:47 AM
The Argentine league will pause all matches in the 10th minute this weekend to honour Lionel Messi following his retirement from international football, the BBC reports.
The Argentine Football Association will hold a minute of applause for Messi at the 10th minute of every match, with referees stopping play for the tribute.
Messi, 39, who wore Argentina’s number 10 shirt, announced his retirement from the national team on Monday.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s final match for Argentina was the 2026 World Cup final, which the team lost to Spain in July. He captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022.
“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 association said.
“We look forward to seeing you on the fields - join us in this recognition!”
Messi is Argentina’s record appearance holder with 207 caps. He first retired from international football in 2016 before reversing his decision.
That came after Argentina lost to Chile in the Copa America final, with Messi missing a penalty in the shootout as his side suffered defeat in a fourth major final in nine years.
The former Barcelona forward went on to win the World Cup and two Copa America titles with Argentina, scoring a national-record 125 goals.
Messi made his international debut in 2005, coming on as a 63rd-minute substitute in a 2-1 friendly win over Hungary.
After moving to Barcelona’s La Masia academy as a 13-year-old, Messi never played senior club football in his native Argentina.
He is the second-highest scorer in World Cup history with 21 goals, behind France’s Kylian Mbappe on 22, and ranks second for goals in men’s international football with 125, behind his long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal on 146.
In August, Messi said he was considering his future in football following the death of his father, Jorge, who died aged 68 after a long illness.
When announcing his international retirement, Messi said his father’s death had left him “even more convinced than before” that he was making the right decision.
He will continue playing in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, where his contract runs until the end of the 2028 season, the British broadcaster said.
