Lionel Messi will receive a nationwide farewell in Argentina this weekend, with every match stopping at the 10th minute for a one-minute ovation honoring the longtime captain and No. 10.
The Argentine Football Association announced the tribute after Messi ended his 21-year international career with Argentina. The timing of the stoppage is a deliberate nod to the No. 10 jersey that became synonymous with the 39-year-old forward.
The tribute applies across all competitions and categories under the AFA, including men’s and women’s 11-a-side football, futsal and beach football. Stadiums equipped with video boards have also been instructed to show a tribute video before the applause.
The first tribute took place during the Copa Argentina round-of-16 match between Velez Sarsfield and Boca Juniors. Referee Sebastian Zunino stopped play around the 10-minute mark, prompting players, coaches and spectators to applaud and chant in honor of Messi.
Messi announced Aug. 31 that he was ending his international career, bringing an emotional conclusion to one of the most decorated careers in Argentina's history.
In an Instagram post featuring handwritten notes, Messi said he had written the message July 21, two days after Argentina's 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. He said the recent death of his father, Jorge Messi, had reinforced his decision.
"The time has come," Messi wrote, while acknowledging that the decision was deeply painful. He said he had given everything he could to the national team and believed younger players deserved an opportunity to take his place.
Messi leaves the Argentina national team as its record appearance-maker with 207 caps and its leading scorer with 125 goals. His final international appearance came in the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Record-breaking World Cup career
Messi played in a record six World Cups, appearing at every tournament from 2006 through 2026.
He made a record 34 World Cup appearances and won a record 23 matches, while scoring 21 goals. He is also the only player to win the Golden Ball, awarded to the tournament's best player, twice, doing so in 2014 and 2022.
Messi also became the first and only player to score in every knockout stage and the group stage of a single World Cup. He found the net in the group stage, round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals and final during Argentina's triumphant 2022 campaign in Qatar.
His World Cup career ultimately produced the trophy that had eluded him for much of his international career. Argentina defeated France on penalties in the 2022 final after a 3-3 draw, giving Messi his first World Cup title.
Dominance across South America
Messi's records extend well beyond the World Cup.
He made 39 appearances across seven Copa America tournaments, more than any other player, and scored 14 goals. He won the competition twice, lifting the trophy with Argentina in 2021 and 2024.
In South American World Cup qualifying, Messi made 72 appearances and scored 36 goals, making him the competition's all-time leading scorer.
His international trophy collection also includes the 2022 Finalissima, when Argentina defeated Italy, and an Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games.
For years, Messi's international career was defined by near misses and disappointment. His breakthrough came with the 2021 Copa America title, followed by the Finalissima, the 2022 World Cup and another Copa America triumph in 2024.