Argentine league pauses at minute ten to honour Messi’s farewell

Fans in Buenos Aires gathered under floodlights as the referee raised his arm at the tenth minute, signalling a brief silence across every stadium. The Argentine League will halt play for a minute of applause, a tribute to Lionel Messi following his announcement on Monday that he is retiring from the national side.

Tribute and retirement details

The Argentine Football Association confirmed that referees will stop the game at the ten‑minute mark in all matches this weekend, allowing supporters to honour Messi with a collective minute of applause. "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.

The 39‑year‑old, who wore the number 10 shirt for Argentina, announced his retirement on Monday. He leaves the national team as an eight‑time Ballon d'Or winner and the record holder for appearances, with 207 caps.

Messi first retired from international football in 2016, but returned after Argentina’s Copa America final loss to Chile, a match in which he missed a penalty in the shoot‑out. That defeat marked the fourth major final loss in nine years for the side.

Career milestones and next chapter

During his tenure, Messi captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022 and added two Copa America titles, scoring a record 125 goals for his country. His final appearance came in the 2026 World Cup final, a July defeat to Spain, after he helped knock England out in the semi‑finals.

He is the second‑highest scorer in World Cup history with 21 goals, behind France’s Kylian Mbappé (22), and ranks second for all‑time international goals with 125, behind Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo (146). The Argentine forward made his debut in 2005 as a 63rd‑minute substitute in a 2‑1 friendly win over Hungary.

In August, Messi revealed he was contemplating his future after the death of his father, Jorge, who died aged 68 following a long illness. He said the loss made him "even more convinced than before" that retiring from international football was the right decision.

Messi will continue his club career in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, where his contract runs to the end of the 2028 season. He moved to Barcelona’s La Masia academy at the age of 13 and has never played senior club football in his native country, a fact that underscores his unique path in football.

A Getty Images photograph captures the moment Messi lifted the World Cup trophy, while other Images and Image archives celebrate his decade‑long dominance. The Argentine League’s tribute reflects the profound impact of a player who reshaped the sport.