Emeka Moses
Lionel Messi has delivered an emotional farewell to the Argentina national team, reflecting on more than two decades representing his country and the extraordinary journey that ultimately saw him lift the World Cup.
Speaking to a packed Monumental Stadium, the Barcelona legend, who played his final game for the national team, struggled to hide his emotions as he addressed the Argentine supporters.
Messi thanked his teammates, remembered his father, and admitted that leaving the national team would be one of the hardest moments of his career.
Despite the emotion surrounding the occasion, Messi managed to maintain his composure.
Towards the end of his speech, he even acknowledged that he was speaking at length because he did not want the moment to end.
Messi began his speech by reflecting on the person who immediately came to his mind.
“It’s a lot of emotions. Obviously the first thing I think about is my dad,” he began.
“The truth is that nothing strange happened, as some are saying.
“We gave it our all. The match against England was incredibly draining for us, both physically and emotionally. We barely made it.
“We fought as we always do, but unfortunately, we couldn’t become champions. But have no doubt that every single one of my teammates left everything on the field for this jersey.”
The Barcelona icon then turned his attention towards the people who shared his international career, acknowledging the teammates who helped him achieve his biggest honours with Argentina.
