⚽ FIFA World Cup 2030: Morocco, Portugal, Spain, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay ⚽

[GbitG]

......

Ronaldo won his first Ballon d'Or in 2008 (Messi did a year later, in 2009) and in 2022 he left European football. That's 14 years at best.

Messi hasn't played on elite level since leaving Barcelona in 2021, so that's even less for him.

Mbappe is already playing 9th season in a row on elite level btw...

What kind of mentality U have.....

If Lionel Messi won it's first Balloon d'Or at 2009 and Ronaldo at 2008 then tell me when Kilyan Mbappe won the Balloon d'Or ....

You are just miss guiding the people. When it's come to elite football then immediately you draged the Balloon d'Or era of Messi and Ronaldo but when it's come to playing time then you simply pastes the debut year......

Let me tell you the whole thing. Messi made his professional debut at 2004 despite Kilyan Mbappe made his debut in 2015. So Messi spend approximate 20 years in elite football and even at the age of Kilyan Mbappe he just fully cooked the whole European football.....

4 Balloon d'Or + 3 Champion league
Does Kilyan Mbappe has any single achievement of this...
Let me know.  

.....

Mbappe has been scoring 30+ goals every single season since 2018/19. You can't say that's not elite level. Don't need any awards to prove it.

Huh that super hilarious......!!!

The man who finished many single season with super individual performance like in his prime he has 40 to 70  goals in every single season but you are comparing him to those who never ever scored 44+ goals per season in his entire career.......

I don't what are you try to tell us....
Maybe you have something wrong in the head...

[Wiwo]

The man who finished many single season with super individual performance like in his prime he has 40 to 70  goals in every single season but you are comparing him to those who never ever scored 44+ goals per season in his entire career.......

I don't what are you try to tell us....
Maybe you have something wrong in the head...

There is no point being angry with other person own view of our fav players Messi although it can be annoying to see comparison between an icon who have helped his National team and clubs side to win various Trophies and making a remarkable record, being talk down at just like a common average players.

The international football community are going to miss Lionel Messi departure most especially now that he left unexpectedly and still has some playing years before his age official retirement.

[sergiorus]

......

Ronaldo won his first Ballon d'Or in 2008 (Messi did a year later, in 2009) and in 2022 he left European football. That's 14 years at best.

Messi hasn't played on elite level since leaving Barcelona in 2021, so that's even less for him.

Mbappe is already playing 9th season in a row on elite level btw...

What kind of mentality U have.....

If Lionel Messi won it's first Balloon d'Or at 2009 and Ronaldo at 2008 then tell me when Kilyan Mbappe won the Balloon d'Or ....

You are just miss guiding the people. When it's come to elite football then immediately you draged the Balloon d'Or era of Messi and Ronaldo but when it's come to playing time then you simply pastes the debut year......

Let me tell you the whole thing. Messi made his professional debut at 2004 despite Kilyan Mbappe made his debut in 2015. So Messi spend approximate 20 years in elite football and even at the age of Kilyan Mbappe he just fully cooked the whole European football.....

4 Balloon d'Or + 3 Champion league
Does Kilyan Mbappe has any single achievement of this...
Let me know.  

.....

Mbappe has been scoring 30+ goals every single season since 2018/19. You can't say that's not elite level. Don't need any awards to prove it.

Huh that super hilarious......!!!

The man who finished many single season with super individual performance like in his prime he has 40 to 70  goals in every single season but you are comparing him to those who never ever scored 44+ goals per season in his entire career.......

I don't what are you try to tell us....
Maybe you have something wrong in the head...

I mean I agree the peak of Messi's career was sky high and probably unreachable for Mbappe or anyone else for now. That was beyond elite class.

However, a big part of that should be attributed to his teammates. Let's just take Xavi and Iniesta - both are among top-5 best central midfielders ever. Mbappe simply never had such a powerful duo behind him, not even remotely close.

Messi just happened to be in the right team at the right time. Individually he's not more gifted than Mbappe.

[DYOR+BTC]

It is true that Messi has played in three World Cup finals for Argentina and we have seen he has won one FIFA World Cup and two Copa Americas with this team. His personal awards include eight Ballon d'Ors and more than 46 other awards, so it seems that it may not be easy to find a replacement for the Argentine team if this player retires. Proof of this is that in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Argentina was able to reach the final again with his single great performance and everyone noticed he was able to score a total of eight goals in this tournament, which is more than the young players of Argentina.

However we think Messi is the best player of all time for Argentina because he has fought a lot for this team and has been able to bring this team many trophies, since this player has retired from the Argentine national team but my opinion he may continue to play in the league so that football lovers will have the opportunity to enjoy his game.

Messi is one of the best players ever that has been witnessed by us and any football fans through his magic that he brings on the field and his whole achievements in his career but what i will say that there is always a replacement. Even if messi leaves the Argentine squad there will be a good replacement ( not better ) but he will work for argentine squad and may even win them trophies because it is how the sport works one goes and another comes. Pele and maradona were also told to be irreplaceable but they got replaced by better players though it will be very hard to replace messi

Know doubt messi is a very good player capable of doing anything needed from a player with potentials but we most  also know on a very good day he will give chance for you players to come into prove there true potentials.
Before this current generation there have been some great players in the history of football but now they have handed over power of another people also and same also will Messi do in the Argentina's national teams amd will be replaced with someone else that will do same or even more than what he has done for them.

[slapper]

~

Messi has endured alot of pain in this Argentina, especially during <2016 backward. Alot pressure mounted upon that he had to retire, and came back because he knows he hasn't achieve his purpose with Argentina. Imagine someone who lost Back to back finals in his 20s , now became someone who won back to back international finals in his late 30s. Messi story in the Argentina national team is truly inspirational. Messi international career is just like this quote " The patient dog eats the fatest bone". This 2026 world cup open the eyes of every football fan that age doesn't matter when it comes to Lionel Messi, he can perform his magic anywhere and at anytime. He gave we the fans his last best performance. He knows age is catching up, and he knows it's time to give way for the new generations unlike some people who are still having issues with their fellow national team mates, because he refused to give way for the new generations. This retirement doesn't even hurt me a bit, when I will feel it the most, is when he wants to retire fully from football. Now let him focus fully on Inter Miami and chase the only record left that one man is hoarding.

But age DID make a difference. He was slow in 2026. It was visible to all those who watched the quarter final of Switzerland. He was only scratching a few yards off of anybody else on that field. And yet. 8 goals. Tied for Golden Boot. At 39 years old.

He was very much a different player in many respects. The Messi who was the Barcelona dribble-stick in the half-way area and beat three defenders? That guy is gone. 2026 version just stood in spaces. Waited. Barely moved sometimes. Then it is the ball and before you knew it it was in the net.

And Scaloni deserves much more credit than he gets. The entire squad was designed to allow Messi to do just that. De Paul running. Enzo running. Mac Allister getting the dirty work done. So that all Messi could do was simply finish.

On the 2014, 2015, 2016 pain? There are three finals, but no trophies. But Higuain missed that sitter in Brazil. Chile beat them on penalties twice. He was making all tournament long. His people around him did not convert.

[GbitG]

There is no point being angry with other person own view of our fav players Messi
......

I am not mad....
Stay clam Dude
I am just telling him the fact  

......

Ronaldo won his first Ballon d'Or in 2008 (Messi did a year later, in 2009) and in 2022 he left European football. That's 14 years at best.

Messi hasn't played on elite level since leaving Barcelona in 2021, so that's even less for him.

Mbappe is already playing 9th season in a row on elite level btw...

What kind of mentality U have.....

If Lionel Messi won it's first Balloon d'Or at 2009 and Ronaldo at 2008 then tell me when Kilyan Mbappe won the Balloon d'Or ....

You are just miss guiding the people. When it's come to elite football then immediately you draged the Balloon d'Or era of Messi and Ronaldo but when it's come to playing time then you simply pastes the debut year......

Let me tell you the whole thing. Messi made his professional debut at 2004 despite Kilyan Mbappe made his debut in 2015. So Messi spend approximate 20 years in elite football and even at the age of Kilyan Mbappe he just fully cooked the whole European football.....

4 Balloon d'Or + 3 Champion league
Does Kilyan Mbappe has any single achievement of this...
Let me know.  

.....

Mbappe has been scoring 30+ goals every single season since 2018/19. You can't say that's not elite level. Don't need any awards to prove it.

Huh that super hilarious......!!!

The man who finished many single season with super individual performance like in his prime he has 40 to 70  goals in every single season but you are comparing him to those who never ever scored 44+ goals per season in his entire career.......

I don't what are you try to tell us....
Maybe you have something wrong in the head...

I mean I agree the peak of Messi's career was sky high and probably unreachable for Mbappe or anyone else for now. That was beyond elite class.

However, a big part of that should be attributed to his teammates. Let's just take Xavi and Iniesta - both are among top-5 best central midfielders ever. Mbappe simply never had such a powerful duo behind him, not even remotely close.

Messi just happened to be in the right team at the right time. Individually he's not more gifted than Mbappe.

Huh again....!!!!
I know you are doing all of his best effort to degraded the Messi impact but I won't let you....

Did you Know how much European Golden shoes Messi have. 6. And three of them Messi won after Xavi retirement. So let me tell you how he contribute to him.
Besides that I know you will also draged back Iniesta. So Iniesta has provided only 6 assist to him in last 3 season I mean after the departure of Xavi...

I think you are just dodging the fact....

But anyway still you can't skip it easily that Kilyan Mbappe will never ever be reached to the level of Messi and not even near to him.....

[Powerjumboo]

Just saw this news and was shocked. I never expected this because Lionel Messi still plays quality football, so one can assume he would keep playing for another four years. He said he has given his all and his leg cannot keep going. The loss of his father and the pain of losing the last World Cup influenced this decision.

He earned 207 caps for Argentina and helped them win one World Cup and two Copa América titles. He will now focus more on his family, club, and other endeavours.

No more argument about him being at the 2030 WC; he will be missed greatly.

https://dailypost.ng/2026/08/31/lionel-messi-retires-from-international-football-gives-reasons/

Many of us may praise Messi's performance and many may not praise Messi's performance. In fact, those of us who do not praise Messi's performance may not be Messi's fans, but the reality is that Messi is truly the best player. We will miss him a lot and may not be able to see his extraordinary performance on the field. Maybe in the future, players like Messi or even better than Messi will be produced and will come to the team, but we will not get Messi back. However, since he is old enough, considering his age, his decision to retire is better. I love Messi very much and enjoy his game carefully. I hope to love Messi for the rest of my life and miss his performance even though I am a supporter of another team.

[el che]

Many of us may praise Messi's performance and many may not praise Messi's performance. In fact, those of us who do not praise Messi's performance may not be Messi's fans, but the reality is that Messi is truly the best player. We will miss him a lot and may not be able to see his extraordinary performance on the field. Maybe in the future, players like Messi or even better than Messi will be produced and will come to the team, but we will not get Messi back. However, since he is old enough, considering his age, his decision to retire is better. I love Messi very much and enjoy his game carefully. I hope to love Messi for the rest of my life and miss his performance even though I am a supporter of another team.

I wouldn't write him off just yet. In four years' time if he is not injured and still playing for a club, he might rejoin the national team for one last World Cup (again). He might not be able to play a full match, but even coming on for the last 20 or 30 minutes, just his presence with the squad would add a huge boost to the team without even playing. This wouldn't be the first time he retires from international football and comes back. I don't think there is a human being that loves football as much as he does, or maybe this is all just wishful thinking from me as an Argentine who still can't accept what he announced.

[ArabBTC]

Yesterday was indeed a dark day in the history of football, hearing the news of Messi’s retirement from international football got me speechless even though i was expecting it soon because of his age, i have watched many past legends including Ronaldinho etc but i have never loved and fan any like Messi, in fact throughout yesterday i kept on asking myself can this world still get an exceptional player like Messi? A player who literally made football colorful throughout his career, even times when Messi’s team lost he still showed class in his individual touches, he broke almost every record in world football and kept a standard that can’t be broken in years to come, what even makes Messi extraordinary to me is his humility despite his skills and achievements in football. Sincerely Messi will always remain the greatest of all time (G.O.A.T), it will take a while before this world can see a player of his kind.

[ruykeri]

Yesterday was indeed a dark day in the history of football, hearing the news of Messi’s retirement from international football got me speechless even though i was expecting it soon because of his age, i have watched many past legends including Ronaldinho etc but i have never loved and fan any like Messi, in fact throughout yesterday i kept on asking myself can this world still get an exceptional player like Messi? A player who literally made football colorful throughout his career, even times when Messi’s team lost he still showed class in his individual touches, he broke almost every record in world football and kept a standard that can’t be broken in years to come, what even makes Messi extraordinary to me is his humility despite his skills and achievements in football. Sincerely Messi will always remain the greatest of all time (G.O.A.T), it will take a while before this world can see a player of his kind.

No player can compare to Messi. He has break all records and is ahead of everyone in popularity. Messi has got everything a player needs. Messi's last unfulfilled dream was a World Cup, which he succeeded in. Messi will remain the GOAT of football in the future. I don't think we will ever find an extraordinary player like Messi. In the history of football over the years, many players have become popular, many players have won the World Cup. There were many skilled-full players in the history of football, but none of them could be Messi's equal. Messi's uniqueness has set him apart from everyone. Even if Messi retires, people will never forget him.

[GbitG]

Just saw this news and was shocked. I never expected this because Lionel Messi still plays quality football, so one can assume he would keep playing for another four years. He said he has given his all and his leg cannot keep going. The loss of his father and the pain of losing the last World Cup influenced this decision.

He earned 207 caps for Argentina and helped them win one World Cup and two Copa América titles. He will now focus more on his family, club, and other endeavours.

No more argument about him being at the 2030 WC; he will be missed greatly.

https://dailypost.ng/2026/08/31/lionel-messi-retires-from-international-football-gives-reasons/

Hmmm, that's Ala's....!!!

To be honest this shocking news really make feel super sad like I was thinking that Messi will definitely be play the next Copa America but that so sad he suddenly just announced his retirement. I think the death of his father make him more weak on emotions base and that's why he announced his retirement.....

However, we will remember him for the rest of his life form bottom of our heart. He is not only the GOAT of football despite he is also teg one who make us fall in love for football. Leo i will remember your name til the rest of my life. 🥹🥹

[Iamgoat]

Many of us may praise Messi's performance and many may not praise Messi's performance. In fact, those of us who do not praise Messi's performance may not be Messi's fans, but the reality is that Messi is truly the best player. We will miss him a lot and may not be able to see his extraordinary performance on the field. Maybe in the future, players like Messi or even better than Messi will be produced and will come to the team, but we will not get Messi back. However, since he is old enough, considering his age, his decision to retire is better. I love Messi very much and enjoy his game carefully. I hope to love Messi for the rest of my life and miss his performance even though I am a supporter of another team.

Argentina has indeed lost a legendary player on the pitch who has now hanged his boot and retired honorably. The impact he has brought to Argentina in the modern era ensuring the scored the previous World Cup and came as runner ups at at the last 2026 World Cup. These are both two landslide victories and achievements the team has achieved during cause of his stay with the team and everybody saw his effect to the success of the national team. Now he’s no longer be playing subsequent matches and I am already foreseeing serious decline in the performance of the national team in his absence.

[PremiumcryptoHub]

It is true that Messi has played in three World Cup finals for Argentina and we have seen he has won one FIFA World Cup and two Copa Americas with this team. His personal awards include eight Ballon d'Ors and more than 46 other awards, so it seems that it may not be easy to find a replacement for the Argentine team if this player retires. Proof of this is that in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Argentina was able to reach the final again with his single great performance and everyone noticed he was able to score a total of eight goals in this tournament, which is more than the young players of Argentina.

However we think Messi is the best player of all time for Argentina because he has fought a lot for this team and has been able to bring this team many trophies, since this player has retired from the Argentine national team but my opinion he may continue to play in the league so that football lovers will have the opportunity to enjoy his game.

Messi is one of the best players ever that has been witnessed by us and any football fans through his magic that he brings on the field and his whole achievements in his career but what i will say that there is always a replacement. Even if messi leaves the Argentine squad there will be a good replacement ( not better ) but he will work for argentine squad and may even win them trophies because it is how the sport works one goes and another comes. Pele and maradona were also told to be irreplaceable but they got replaced by better players though it will be very hard to replace messi

Actually it seems to us that finding a replacement for Messi in the Argentina team, it will be much more difficult. because, as you probably know, this player was capable of turning the tide of the match at any time but currently, there are no players in the Argentina team who can suddenly turn the tide of the match because they were unable to do that even in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

However it is not easy to find a player as talented and highly skilled as a player who has won eight Ballon d'Ors in the Argentina team, even my opinion this player has already scored almost 920 goals, he has also won several UEFA Champions League trophies, including two Golden Balls. So it can be said with certainty that this game was the most trained player on the Argentine team and the best player, as a result Argentina would have been able to easily win the match through this player's excellent performance, and he did just that in this World Cup.

[HustleZ]

 Ronaldo and Messi, who delighted the entire world with a sporting rivalry that lasted for more than twenty years.

"MORE THAN TWENTY YEARS"?? What the hell are you talking about?

Ronaldo won his first Ballon d'Or in 2008 (Messi did a year later, in 2009) and in 2022 he left European football. That's 14 years at best.

Messi hasn't played on elite level since leaving Barcelona in 2021, so that's even less for him.

Mbappe is already playing 9th season in a row on elite level btw...

Winning a balon dor by either of them didnt start their golden era yet they were in the spotlight years before they won the balon dors, ronaldo at sporting in 2004 performed really well along with messi who came onto the field and shocked everyone around 2006 so from 2004-06 then twenty years become 2024-26 soo that sums up the math part…

After that you said messi didnt play at elite level after leaving barca but after he left barca he joined PSG where Mbappe was a teammate with him, so does it mean that Mbappe wasnt also playing at elite level, if yes then your statement is wrong where you said he has been playing his 9th season in a row ag elite level. You have 2 choices… you have to consider messi’s years in PSG as elite level years, OR you have to disconsider the statement that mbappe has been playing at elite level since 9 years as both statements cant be true.

[Creeper0]

Argentina has indeed lost a legendary player on the pitch who has now hanged his boot and retired honorably. The impact he has brought to Argentina in the modern era ensuring the scored the previous World Cup and came as runner ups at at the last 2026 World Cup. These are both two landslide victories and achievements the team has achieved during cause of his stay with the team and everybody saw his effect to the success of the national team. Now he’s no longer be playing subsequent matches and I am already foreseeing serious decline in the performance of the national team in his absence.

The departure of an Argentine legend after Di Maria will definitely hurt Argentina. We missed Di Maria in the last World Cup, so it is natural that Messi's absence will affect Argentina's performance. However, it is not possible to say how deep that impact will be. It is really surprising that we have already lost one of the greatest legends from the international football field. Maybe very soon we will also lose Cristiano Ronaldo.

What will happen to Argentina next? Will they completely collapse or lose their dominance in international football? The chances of that are very low. Because they still have star players like Julian Álvarez, Lautaro Martinez, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Alexis Mac Allister, Enzo Fernández and Emiliano Martínez. No matter how good their performance is for the club, they perform brilliantly for the national team. So even if the team deteriorates a little without Messi, it will not have much of an impact.

[Agbe]

The departure of an Argentine legend after Di Maria will definitely hurt Argentina. We missed Di Maria in the last World Cup, so it is natural that Messi's absence will affect Argentina's performance. However, it is not possible to say how deep that impact will be.

The absence of Messi will deeply affect Argentina because, he was the key player in the recent concluded World Cup. And what I was thinking about this was that, Messi honourably left because he was beaten by his boy Yamal. Though he was due to resign from National Team and people were saying he would left the national team after the 2022 world cup but he still continue after the World Cup wins but resign after losing this world cup. This will affect them in the next World Cup.

[Die_empty]

Huh that super hilarious......!!!

The man who finished many single season with super individual performance like in his prime he has 40 to 70  goals in every single season but you are comparing him to those who never ever scored 44+ goals per season in his entire career.......

I don't what are you try to tell us....
Maybe you have something wrong in the head...

Mbappe's highest club goal total for a season was in the 2018-2019 season, and he scored 33 goals. Ronald's highest goal total in his club for one season is 61 goals in the 2014–15 campaign for Real Madrid. Messi had the highest number in was in the 2011/12 season when he scored 73 goals for Barcelona.

I am wondering if the number of goals scored is now the major criterion for winning the Ballon d'Or.  I thought the general contribution of the player to his country and club is what matters. Many players have won the award without scoring many goals. Messi was the greatest; it's not only his goals that made him win the most Ballon d'Or awards.

[Powerjumboo]

Yesterday was indeed a dark day in the history of football, hearing the news of Messi’s retirement from international football got me speechless even though i was expecting it soon because of his age, i have watched many past legends including Ronaldinho etc but i have never loved and fan any like Messi, in fact throughout yesterday i kept on asking myself can this world still get an exceptional player like Messi? A player who literally made football colorful throughout his career, even times when Messi’s team lost he still showed class in his individual touches, he broke almost every record in world football and kept a standard that can’t be broken in years to come, what even makes Messi extraordinary to me is his humility despite his skills and achievements in football. Sincerely Messi will always remain the greatest of all time (G.O.A.T), it will take a while before this world can see a player of his kind.

No player can compare to Messi. He has break all records and is ahead of everyone in popularity. Messi has got everything a player needs. Messi's last unfulfilled dream was a World Cup, which he succeeded in. Messi will remain the GOAT of football in the future. I don't think we will ever find an extraordinary player like Messi. In the history of football over the years, many players have become popular, many players have won the World Cup. There were many skilled-full players in the history of football, but none of them could be Messi's equal. Messi's uniqueness has set him apart from everyone. Even if Messi retires, people will never forget him.

Messi is one and only extraordinary player, no one can compare to him. However, Messi's departure from the World Cup at this moment and his father's passing have caused a lot of pain in Messi's family. However, from my point of view, I would say that maybe this was the right time for him to leave the international World Cup, which is why he has left international football at this moment. However, I will say one thing again and again, Messi is the best player I have ever seen and many great players will be produced over the years, but no one can fill Messi's place. Messi's place will always be felt and missed by people.

[Oluwa-btc]

Just saw this news and was shocked. I never expected this because Lionel Messi still plays quality football, so one can assume he would keep playing for another four years. He said he has given his all and his leg cannot keep going. The loss of his father and the pain of losing the last World Cup influenced this decision.

He earned 207 caps for Argentina and helped them win one World Cup and two Copa América titles. He will now focus more on his family, club, and other endeavours.

No more argument about him being at the 2030 WC; he will be missed greatly.

https://dailypost.ng/2026/08/31/lionel-messi-retires-from-international-football-gives-reasons/

You can remain depressed for two straight years when you lose someone you love genuinely. You will attempt to move on, but the ache will always be there in your heart.

This is not the time to see football fans banter and banter, I pray he finds courage and strength during this difficult and emotional period for himself and his family. Most importantly his mother, they barely stay long whenever they lose their husband most especially if they're not strong mentally. It is the right thing to do. I also read three to four players like Parades and co's are also going to pump their brakes from international duties.

[Die_empty]

You can remain depressed for two straight years when you lose someone you love genuinely. You will attempt to move on, but the ache will always be there in your heart.

This is not the time to see football fans banter and banter, I pray he finds courage and strength during this difficult and emotional period for himself and his family. Most importantly his mother, they barely stay long whenever they lose their husband most especially if they're not strong mentally. It is the right thing to do. I also read three to four players like Parades and co's are also going to pump their brakes from international duties.

The death of Francesco Balotelli, Mario Balotelli's adopted father, affected his life. Stanley Nwabali, a Nigerian footballer, said he considered retiring from football after the death of his parents. The loss of a loved one could be devastating, and it can destabilise the on-pitch and off-pitch performance of players.

I also pray that God consoles those who have lost close family members and friends. It's hard to forget a loved one; however, life must go on. They would have to put themselves together and continue with life's activities. Messi made the right decision since it is better to leave when the ovation is loudest.