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I thought I was prepared
‘I thought I was prepared, but clearly I wasn’t’: Paredes, Di Maria, Argentine stars react to Lionel Messi's retirement
‘I thought I was prepared, but clearly I wasn’t’: Paredes, Di Maria, Argentine stars react to Lionel Messi's retirement
The Argentine players paid rich tribute to Lionel Messi in lengthy social media posts, hailing the impact he had on their careers and the national team.
Updated on: Sep 1, 2026, 07:11:06 IST Written by Aditya Maheshwari Prefer HTon Google Share via Copy link Lionel Messi has left behind a lasting legacy following his retirement from international football. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner finished his Argentina career with 125 goals, but his impact went far beyond the numbers he produced on the pitch. His journey with the national team was far from straightforward. Messi endured years of disappointment and painful defeats before eventually changing the narrative and establishing himself as one of Argentina's greatest-ever players. Argentina stars bid emotional farewell to Lionel Messi after international retirement. (AFP) He went on to lead Argentina through their most successful period in recent history, winning multiple Copa America titles, the Finalissima and, most importantly, the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Those triumphs silenced the doubters who had once questioned his legacy in international football. The 39-year-old also shared a special bond with almost every player he represented Argentina alongside. The final generation of players he led held him in particularly high regard. Messi was their leader, and they were ready to give everything for him until the final whistle. They knew better than anyone about his extraordinary ability to change a game in an instant, something he continued to do throughout his remarkable career in the Argentina jersey.Deep Dive
What were Lionel Messi's major achievements with the Argentina national team before his retirement? Why was Messi's emotional farewell significant for his teammates and Argentina? How did Messi's retirement announcement differ from his first retirement in 2016? Powered ByAsk HT The Argentine players paid rich tribute to Messi in lengthy social media posts, hailing the impact he had on their careers and the national team. Rodrigo de Paul, who grew particularly close to Messi in recent years, poured his heart out in an emotional Instagram post, reflecting on their journey together. "There’s something I always wanted throughout all these years: for every Argentine to truly know who you are. What you’re like when there are no cameras, no stadiums, when you’re simply yourself. You never liked that too much. You always felt that your boots were the best way to speak and that the football pitch was where you had to show everything you felt for your country. And I was lucky enough to see everything that happened behind the scenes," De Paul wrote on in a long post for Messi. Also Read - ‘I saw you suffer, fall and get back up’: Lionel Messi's wife Antonela's emotional note after his Argentina retirement View this post on Instagram A post shared by Rodrigo De Paul (@rodridepaul) Angel Di Maria, who shared the pitch with Messi for Argentina for nearly two decades, also penned an emotional farewell for his close friend and former international teammate. Reflecting on their journey together, Di Maria admitted how difficult it was to come to terms with Messi's decision to retire from international football. "How difficult it is to read that you are retiring. How difficult it is to read that we won’t see you anymore in the sky blue and white. All I know is that I was born in the right century to be able to watch you, enjoy you and, on top of that, share all these years with you in the national team. To watch you fulfil all your dreams, especially the one you wanted most: becoming world champion. Today, you decided to take that step that surely neither you nor any Argentine wanted to see come. But it has arrived, and today, as we have throughout your entire journey, we can only say: thank you, thank you so much, for everything. You are eternal and the greatest of all time in HISTORY," Di Maria wrote. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ángel Di María (@angeldimariajm) Leandro Paredes, another of Messi's long-time Argentina teammates, also shared an emotional message for the captain, admitting that even though he thought he was prepared for the news. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Leandro Paredes (@leoparedes20) "I thought I was already prepared for this news, but clearly I wasn’t. THANK YOU, For everything you did for me as an Argentine, as a fan of the national team, as a teammate and as a friend. Words fall short when it comes to you, your legacy and your greatness as a player, but above all, as a person. I am fortunate to have played alongside you throughout this beautiful journey with our national team… your national team. I love you, little one! May you always be happy! Our country will always be grateful to you for everything you made us experience!!!" he added. Enzo Fernandez, who once dreamed of sharing the Argentina shirt with his idol, reflected on how that childhood dream eventually became a reality, culminating in the pair lifting the World Cup together. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Enzo Fernández (@enzojfernandez) "Leo, when you said you were leaving the national team that time, I was very sad. I was just a kid and I used to calculate the age difference between you and me to see if one day I might get to play alongside you. It may sound silly, but I really did it. I would think about how many years you might have left, how many I had before reaching the first team, and dream that, even if only once, we could share the Argentina shirt. Luckily, you came back. And life ended up being much more beautiful than that kid could have imagined. I didn’t just get to play with you. We shared training camps, dressing rooms, conversations, hugs, difficult moments, incredible moments and, in the end, we became world champions together," he wrote. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Aditya Maheshwari Aditya Maheshwari is a Chief Content Producer and sports journalist with over seven years of experience covering the sports beat across formats and platforms. A cricket-first reporter by profession, he also follows football closely and considers it an integral part of his sporting journey. His work is shaped by a strong on-ground understanding of the game and an ability to translate match-day moments into clear, engaging stories that connect with readers across digital audiences. Over the years, he has developed a balanced approach that combines factual accuracy with narrative clarity, ensuring that both breaking developments and deeper insights are presented with context. Aditya has reported from the field at several major tournaments, including the ICC Cricket World Cup, the Indian Premier League, and the Indian Super League. First-hand coverage of these events has strengthened his ability to read the pulse of high-pressure contests, whether through live reporting, post-match analysis, or long-form storytelling. Working closely around teams, venues, and evolving storylines has helped him develop a strong sense of timing and editorial judgment. While cricket remains his primary focus, Aditya regularly reports on football and keeps a close watch on other sports such as tennis, hockey, and badminton. His wide-ranging interest allows him to approach stories with broader perspective, understanding how different sporting ecosystems function and evolve. Comfortable in fast-paced digital newsrooms, Aditya is well-versed in modern sports coverage, from live blogs and real-time updates to in-depth analysis and audience-focused storytelling. He believes in keeping sports writing simple, accurate, and grounded, with emphasis on clarity over complexity. At the core of his work lies a commitment to credible reporting and telling stories that go beyond the numbers on the scoreboard, highlighting the people, preparation, and pressure behind every performance.Read More Retirement Legacy Fifa World Cup Lionel Messi Argentina Stay updated with the latest sports news, including latest headlines and updates from the Durand Cup Final Live. Catch all the action from tennis Grand Slam tournaments, follow your favourite football teams and players with the latest match results, and get the latest on international hockey tournaments and series. Home/Sports/Football/‘I Thought I Was Prepared, But Clearly I Wasn’t’: Paredes, Di Maria, Argentine Stars React To Lionel Messi's Retirement See LessLionel Messi has left behind a lasting legacy following his retirement from international football. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner finished his Argentina career with 125 goals, but his impact went far beyond the numbers he produced on the pitch. His journey with the national team was far from straightforward. Messi endured years of disappointment and painful defeats before eventually changing the narrative and establishing himself as one of Argentina's greatest-ever players.
He went on to lead Argentina through their most successful period in recent history, winning multiple Copa America titles, the Finalissima and, most importantly, the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Those triumphs silenced the doubters who had once questioned his legacy in international football.
The 39-year-old also shared a special bond with almost every player he represented Argentina alongside. The final generation of players he led held him in particularly high regard. Messi was their leader, and they were ready to give everything for him until the final whistle. They knew better than anyone about his extraordinary ability to change a game in an instant, something he continued to do throughout his remarkable career in the Argentina jersey.
The Argentine players paid rich tribute to Messi in lengthy social media posts, hailing the impact he had on their careers and the national team.
Rodrigo de Paul, who grew particularly close to Messi in recent years, poured his heart out in an emotional Instagram post, reflecting on their journey together.
"There’s something I always wanted throughout all these years: for every Argentine to truly know who you are. What you’re like when there are no cameras, no stadiums, when you’re simply yourself. You never liked that too much. You always felt that your boots were the best way to speak and that the football pitch was where you had to show everything you felt for your country. And I was lucky enough to see everything that happened behind the scenes," De Paul wrote on in a long post for Messi.
Also Read - ‘I saw you suffer, fall and get back up’: Lionel Messi's wife Antonela's emotional note after his Argentina retirement
Angel Di Maria, who shared the pitch with Messi for Argentina for nearly two decades, also penned an emotional farewell for his close friend and former international teammate. Reflecting on their journey together, Di Maria admitted how difficult it was to come to terms with Messi's decision to retire from international football.
"How difficult it is to read that you are retiring. How difficult it is to read that we won’t see you anymore in the sky blue and white. All I know is that I was born in the right century to be able to watch you, enjoy you and, on top of that, share all these years with you in the national team. To watch you fulfil all your dreams, especially the one you wanted most: becoming world champion. Today, you decided to take that step that surely neither you nor any Argentine wanted to see come. But it has arrived, and today, as we have throughout your entire journey, we can only say: thank you, thank you so much, for everything. You are eternal and the greatest of all time in HISTORY," Di Maria wrote.
Leandro Paredes, another of Messi's long-time Argentina teammates, also shared an emotional message for the captain, admitting that even though he thought he was prepared for the news.
"I thought I was already prepared for this news, but clearly I wasn’t. THANK YOU,
For everything you did for me as an Argentine, as a fan of the national team, as a teammate and as a friend. Words fall short when it comes to you, your legacy and your greatness as a player, but above all, as a person. I am fortunate to have played alongside you throughout this beautiful journey with our national team… your national team. I love you, little one! May you always be happy! Our country will always be grateful to you for everything you made us experience!!!" he added.
Enzo Fernandez, who once dreamed of sharing the Argentina shirt with his idol, reflected on how that childhood dream eventually became a reality, culminating in the pair lifting the World Cup together.
"Leo, when you said you were leaving the national team that time, I was very sad. I was just a kid and I used to calculate the age difference between you and me to see if one day I might get to play alongside you. It may sound silly, but I really did it. I would think about how many years you might have left, how many I had before reaching the first team, and dream that, even if only once, we could share the Argentina shirt. Luckily, you came back. And life ended up being much more beautiful than that kid could have imagined. I didn’t just get to play with you. We shared training camps, dressing rooms, conversations, hugs, difficult moments, incredible moments and, in the end, we became world champions together," he wrote.
Source: HindustanTimes
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