39‑year‑old Lionel Messi announced his retirement from the Argentina national team via his personal social‑media channels.
Official news from the Argentine Football Association:
To express gratitude and pay tribute to Lionel Messi’s career with the Argentina national team, referees will halt play at the 10‑minute mark of all upcoming domestic football fixtures in Argentina, and the whole stadium will hold one minute of collective applause.
Official Announcement Argentine Football Association Bulletin No. 6940 — Resolution of the Board of Directors, September 2, 2026 —
It is hereby ruled that for all categories across men’s and women’s competitions (11‑a‑side football, futsal, beach soccer), play shall be stopped at the tenth (10) minute of the first half in matches of the next fixture round, followed by one (1) minute of applause in recognition of Lionel Messi’s career with the Argentina national team.
