Argentina to Honor Lionel Messi With Minute's Applause in All Matches After International Retirement

Despite his retirement from international competition, soccer legend Lionel Messi will remain a fixture in Argentina's matches.

Per The Athletic's Colin Millar , Argentina will hold a minute-long pause in the 10th minute of all of their matches to honor Messi with applause.

"The Argentine Football Association (AFA) confirmed on Thursday that every match "across all categories" of football in the nation will pause when the clock hits 10 minutes, at which point a full minute's round of applause will take place," Millar explained. "The number 10 is the number Messi has worn most often for his clubs and country."

Messi announced earlier this week that the 2026 World Cup was his final appearance for Argentina. The 39-year-old, who still stars with Inter Miami in the MLS, led his national team to victory in the 2022 World Cup and the Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024.

"It was a decision that hurt -- and still hurts deep down -- but I understand that the time has come," Messi wrote on Instagram . "I swear to you that I always gave it my all -- not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too; I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football."

Millar noted that the applause mandate for Messi in Argentina "includes all men's and women's football, and extends to futsal and beach soccer games." The new tradition officially started on Wednesday in a Copa Argentina match between Velez Sarsfield and Boca Juniors.