New Delhi, September 1: Jay Shah, the President of the International Cricket Council (ICC), extended his congratulations to Argentine football legend Lionel Messi following his retirement from international football.
On social media, Shah praised the World Cup-winning captain of Argentina and reminisced about their meeting during Messi’s visit to India last year alongside Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul.
Shah shared a photo on X, presenting Messi with an Indian cricket jersey. He wrote, “The international journey that defined an era has come to an end. Remembering our meeting during your historic visit to India, your deep humility shone as brightly as your unparalleled talent on the pitch.”
He added, “It was a moment of pride to personally gift you our national colors. Thank you for the memories, Leo Messi. Wishing you all the best for the next chapter of your life.”
Messi announced his retirement from international football on Monday. In his statement, he expressed, “Time is running out, chapters are closing, and this is one that saddens me deeply. I have loved being part of the national team, I always will.”
He continued, “I have given my all; I have nothing left to give. Moreover, there are some very talented young players coming up who deserve their chance.”
Messi revealed that he penned his retirement message two days after Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the FIFA World Cup 2026 final on July 21.
This iconic player ended a long wait for the FIFA World Cup title in 2022. He expressed gratitude for all the love he received over the past 20 years, stating, “I will miss hearing you from the pitch.”
Messi concluded, “Now I will be one of you, always cheering and supporting from the sidelines. I leave with peace of mind and pride, knowing I provided you, along with my teammates, moments we only dreamed of. Experiencing this with all of you has been incredible. I love you all.”
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