Mourinho Honors Messi After His International Retirement

José Mourinho, the current manager of Real Madrid, paid tribute to Lionel Messi following the Argentine's retirement from international football on August 31, 2023. Mourinho described Messi as one of the greatest players of his generation, stating, “There are no words to describe his quality as a player.” Messi's retirement came after a 21-year international career, which included leading Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup and the Copa América in 2021 and 2024.

He concluded his international career with 207 caps and 125 goals, making him Argentina's record appearance-maker and leading goalscorer. This decision followed Argentina's defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, where Messi captained the team.

Although he has retired from international play, Messi continues his club career with Major League Soccer side Inter Miami. In honor of Messi, the Argentine Football Association announced that domestic matches would pause for a minute of applause in the 10th minute, recognizing his iconic No. 10 shirt.