ARGENTINA legend Lionel Messi has received great praise from Inter Miami boss David Beckham after announcing his international retirement.
Image: GIORGIO VIERA / AFP
David Beckham said Lionel Messi's "legacy will live forever" after the Argentina legend announced his retirement from international football.
Messi on Monday revealed he had called time on his remarkable career with Argentina after 207 caps and 125 goals.
The 39-year-old won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and his last game for his country was Argentina's World Cup final defeat against Spain in July.
Messi's brilliance for Argentina and Barcelona made him one of the world's greatest ever players.
Former England captain Beckham has had a close-up view of Messi's career as an opponent and now as co-owner of the forward's current side Inter Miami.
"This is the moment we get to look back on and realise how grateful we were to witness the greatness of a young kid with a dream," Beckham wrote on Instagram on Tuesday.
"Leo, you have been a credit to yourself, your family, your friends and your country. Leading by example and creating inspiration for millions of children not just in Argentina but around the whole world.
"Leo, you delivered the greatest gift to your country and, for that, your legacy will live forever. Congratulations on all you achieved for Argentina."
Messi said on Monday he was retiring from international football after leading Argentina to a second successive World Cup final in July.
Part of Messi's retiring message he penned on his socials on Monday, went:
"It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul but I understand that it is the right time," Messi wrote on Instagram.
"I swear I always gave everything, not just in the last few years when we won everything but before that too, and I always fought and gave my all for this shirt," he added.
Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory four years ago by winning the final against France in a penalty shootout in Doha, but his side lost 1-0 to a superior Spain side in the 2026 final in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Following the death of his father Jorge in August, Messi had said he had "serious doubts" about continuing to play football of any sort for "much longer".
"I don't know what I'll do without you, I don't know how to go on. I just played football, and now I have serious doubts about continuing to do so for much longer," he said then.
Messi's contract with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami runs until the end of the 2028 season.
In this year's finals, Messi inspired Argentina to another final by scoring eight goals and provided two assists in the dramatic late comeback against England in the semi-finals.
But the dream of lifting the trophy again proved one match too far as the South Americans lost to Spain in the MetLife Stadium.
Messi was pictured in tears after receiving his loser's medal. He said afterwards that the pain of defeat was "immense" and that it would "take a long time for this wound to heal".
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