Jose Mourinho called Lionel Messi's Argentina career "brilliant and unforgettable" after the Argentina captain confirmed he had played his last game for his country. Messi announced his retirement from Argentina on social media on Monday, aged 39, and leaves with 125 goals in 207 appearances.
Mourinho's tribute to Messi
The former Chelsea and Real Madrid manager replied directly to Messi's Instagram post with a line that matched the scale of the career in front of him. "Congratulations on a brilliant and unforgettable international career. The next Copa America and the next World Cup won't be the same," Mourinho said.
That is the sort of response usually reserved for the very top end of the sport, and Messi's international numbers back it up. His 125 goals make him Argentina's record scorer, and his 207 appearances stretch from his senior debut in 2005 to the end of this run on Monday.
Messi's farewell
Messi's own statement framed the decision as painful but final. "Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply. I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the national team. I've given it my all, I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some really great young players coming through behind me who deserve their chance," he said.
The next part of his career is now at Inter Miami, where he remains under contract in the United States until the end of the 2028 season. For Argentina, the headline is simpler: the most productive scorer in their history has stepped away, and the final word on his international career belongs to 125 goals in 207 games.
Written by Sam Whitfield with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →
