Beckham and Mourinho pay tribute to Messi
September 1, 2026 12:01
Lionel Messi has retired from international football, prompting public tributes from former England captain David Beckham, Real Madrid manager José Mourinho and several Argentina team-mates and figures from the football world. Beckham, who is a co-owner of Inter Miami, praised Messi's influence on young players and celebrated his international achievements in an Instagram message.
Mourinho remarked on social media that future editions of the Copa America and World Cup will be different without Messi. Fellow professionals including Ángel Di María, Cristian Romero and Enzo Fernández, plus FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Argentine Formula One driver Franco Colapinto, also posted messages acknowledging Messi’s career and impact.
KEY CONTEXT
- Across his Argentina career Messi scored 125 goals in 207 appearances.
- He captained Argentina to World Cup victory in 2022, helped them reach the 2026 World Cup final, and won the Copa America in 2021 and 2024.
- Mourinho spent 2010–2013 as Real Madrid manager when Messi was at Barcelona and winning three consecutive Ballon d’Or awards (2010–2012).
- Several of the tributes came from players who shared club or national team time with Messi, reflecting close personal and professional ties.
WHY IT MATTERS
Messi’s international retirement closes one of the most decorated and statistically prolific national-team careers in modern football. His goal tally and the major trophies listed underline the scale of his contributions to Argentina, while the breadth of reactions — from former rivals to team-mates and football leadership — highlights his global influence on the sport.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- How Argentina will reconfigure leadership and attacking roles now that Messi has stepped away internationally.
- The shape and narratives of the next Copa America and World Cup, which Mourinho and others have noted will be staged without Messi’s presence.
- Any further statements or plans from Messi himself about his playing future at club level (none were detailed in the source).
KEY FACTS
- Messi has retired from international football.
- International record: 125 goals in 207 games for Argentina.
- Major honours with Argentina include World Cup winner (2022), World Cup finalist (2026), and Copa America titles (2021, 2024).
- David Beckham (Inter Miami co-owner) and José Mourinho publicly reacted to the retirement.
- Tributes also came from Ángel Di María, Cristian Romero, Enzo Fernández, FIFA president Gianni Infantino and Franco Colapinto.