Reactions worldwide continue to follow star Lionel Messi's decision to retire from international football, as he chose to end a illustrious career with the Argentina national team through a message posted on social media.
Argentina's TyC Sports focused on the details of Messi's retirement announcement and the manner in which he chose to bid farewell to the national team (Read Messi's message here), noting that his decision marks the conclusion of a chapter that seemed endless.
The report highlighted the farewell message accompanied by an emotional video showcasing some of Messi's most important moments. However, the announcement was not limited to his words alone; the image he chose to accompany his message also carried significant meaning.
It noted that the image was rich in detail and symbolism, featuring a message written across three pages torn from a notebook, in Messi's own handwriting and large letters. The message began with the weight of the decision, recalled memories spanning two decades, and ended with an expression of his deep connection to his country: "Thank God for making me Argentine! Go Argentina!"
The report mentioned the golden pen bearing a Harry Potter image, drawing attention to a special detail: atop the pen used by Messi to write his farewell message to the Argentine national team sits a miniature of Hermione Granger's "Time-Turner" from the Harry Potter series, alongside a black Harry Potter logo on the body of the golden pen.
This detail holds particular significance because Messi and his family are fans of the Harry Potter series, and the Time-Turner in the story allows one to travel back in time, while Messi used this very pen to write a message reflecting on twenty years since his debut with Argentina.
The report sees a striking symbolic coincidence: Messi announced the end of his journey with the Argentine national team, writing about the passage of time using a fictional device associated with the possibility of returning to the past.
Recall also that the message was written on three pages torn from a notebook, turning their blank surfaces into a personal letter penned in black ink, complete with some corrections and crossings-out.
On the first page, Messi expressed the heaviness of the decision, affirming that he had given everything until feeling completely drained, with nothing left to offer.
On the second page, he recounted his twenty-year journey with the national team, thanking his family, teammates, coaching staff, and officials, reflecting on a long path worn in the Argentine jersey.
The third page carried an emotional and patriotic tone, concluding with the phrase: "Thank God for making me Argentine... Go Argentina."
The report notes that the message began with exhaustion and fatigue, ending with emotion and pride in the Argentine national team, ensuring that the Argentine jersey remained central to Messi's journey with the squad until the moment of farewell.
Messi's message was not the sole element of his farewell to the Argentine national team; he also published a video reviewing his most notable moments with Albiceleste.
The video encompasses various stages of his career, starting from his debut wearing the Argentina jersey, passing through major tournaments and moments of frustration, culminating in achievements that forever changed his relationship with the national team.
The video complements the handwritten message; while the three pages expressed the end of the journey through his words, the video highlights, through images and clips, the key milestones that shaped Messi's history with Argentina.
