Lionel Messi set for Argentina farewell as Antonela Roccuzzo shares emotional tribute

Lionel Messi will say goodbye to the Argentina national team in a friendly against Benin at the Monumental in the early hours of Wednesday, with tributes arriving for the Albicelesti’s all-time top scorer.

Among the many farewell videos posted on social media, Messi’s wife Antonela Roccuzzo shared one from the Argentine Football Association (AFA) and appeared visibly moved by its message.

Roccuzzo reposted a video featuring some of the defining moments of Messi’s international career, accompanied by a voiceover reflecting on his influence both on and off the pitch. She responded by adding three crying-face emojis to her Instagram story.

The video’s message began: “The story says that a child was born in Rosario and came to change our lives. Not only because of 125 goals, nor because of the magic of those free-kicks. There was something better, something no newspaper ever documented.

“Better than my Copa America titles, even better than the World Cup in Qatar. Leo, do you know why you are the best in the world? Because over these 22 years you made us better.

“Better parents, better sons and daughters, and better life partners. Without realising it, while we cheered your goals and repeated that you were the greatest of all time, you were making us better too. That is another title in itself.”

‘You taught us there was still time to dream’

The narration continued by highlighting how Messi’s career had affected an entire generation of Argentina supporters.

“You made us better grandchildren with everything you gave to your grandmother. You made us better at facing adversity because, despite everything you went through, you took us to another World Cup final. Imagine if that does not make us better.

“You made us better with just a few words when you corrected history in front of the whole world, when you went to sleep holding that trophy, because you taught us that there was still time to dream.

“Thank you, Leo. Thank you for the titles and the goals, but your legacy goes far beyond that. When people ask us what Lionel Messi means to us, do you know what we will say? The greatest of all time, because he made us all better.”

The tribute was presented as part of the AFA’s farewell ceremony for Messi, whose final appearance for Argentina will take place at the Monumental.

The celebrations will continue at the stadium with a live artistic show involving several performers. That will be followed by the football match against Benin, in which Messi will play his final minutes in an Argentina shirt alongside team-mates who shared his successes and others who will follow in his path with the national side.