Real Madrid coach José Mourinho has lauded Lionel Messi as one of the greatest players of his generation following the Argentine’s retirement from international football.
“There are no words to describe his quality as a player,” Mourinho said on Thursday in a news conference.
“With what he did at the World Cup, at 39 years old… He’s a player we’ll miss. We’ll have to watch some MLS games to enjoy his last years; I don’t know if it will be a season or seasons.
“He’s one of those players who, as I said the other day, you always miss. This player, for our generation, over these last two decades, we all know what he represents,” he said.
39-year-old Messi announced his retirement from the Argentina national team on August 31, ending a 21-year international career.
His retirement came seven weeks after Argentina’s 1–0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, where Messi captained his side as they fell short of retaining the title they won in 2022.
The eight-time Ballon D’Or winner had led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and also won the Copa América in 2021 and 2024. He finished his international career as Argentina’s record appearance-maker and leading goalscorer, with 207 caps and 125 goals.
Messi’s sixth World Cup appearance, after making his Argentina debut in 2005, came in 2026.
Despite his retirement from international football, Messi’s playing career has not ended.
He remains at Major League Soccer team Inter Miami, causing Mourinho to remark that he will have to watch MLS games to enjoy the Argentine superstar’s final years of club football.
The Argentine Football Association has stated that domestic matches this weekend will be paused in the tenth minute for a minute of ovation in honor of Messi as a tribute to his legendary No. 10 shirt.
