World Cup will not be the same in your absence: Jose Mourinho sends message to Lionel Messi following his retirement

Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has sent a message to Lionel Messi after the Argentina captain officially announced his retirement from international football.

Messi confirmed the  news in a statement posted to his Instagram account on Monday, August 31, 2026.

“After all this time since the final match, and after much thought, I want to announce to everyone that I have decided to retire from playing with the national team,” Messi wrote.

“It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul but I understand that it is the right time”. “I swear I always gave everything, not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too,” he added.

“I always fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you happiness and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football”. Reacting to the announcement, Mourinho posted a comment directly on the legend’s statement praising his legacy.

Taking to the comment section of the post, Mourinho wrote;

“Congratulations on a wonderful and unforgettable international career.”
“The next Copa America and the next World Cup will not be the same in your absence as they were before”.

The 39-year-old forward leaves international football as Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer with 125 goals in 207 appearances. His 21-year stint with the national team included victories at the 2021 and 2024 Copa America tournaments and the 2022 FIFA World Cup, alongside leading Argentina to the final of the 2026 World Cup.