Lionel Messi announced this Monday his retirement from the Argentine national team, publishing on his social media a letter that, according to him, had been written since July 21, two days after the defeat to Spain in the World Cup final. The 39-year-old player stated that the decision "hurt, and still hurts in the soul," but that he understands it is the right moment to retire. The letter mentions as determining factors the end of his sixth World Cup, the death of his father who had always been his guardian throughout his career, and the beginning of a new cycle for the Argentine national team.
Messi explained that he no longer has the energy needed to wear the albiceleste jersey for another four years until the next major tournament, which will be the 2028 Copa América. The player wishes to step away now so that the new generation can come in without the pressure of having to win a trophy soon, thus alleviating the weight that the retirement of the great idol could generate over the future players of the team.
With Messi's departure, the Argentine national team now faces the challenge of learning to "walk on its own feet," as the article points out. Before thinking about the future of the team on the field, the Argentine Football Association needs to resolve an important administrative issue: the future of head coach Lionel Scaloni, whose contract expires in December, has not yet been defined.
Scaloni is considered a fundamental piece for the team's transition after the retirement of its greatest star. The renewal of his contract becomes urgent not only to maintain the continuity of the work, but also to offer stability and reference to the new generation of players who will need to assume the protagonism left by Messi in the albiceleste national team.
