Mourinho warns Messi’s decision will reshape Argentina’s next major tournaments

Jose Mourinho has paid tribute to Lionel Messi after the Inter Miami forward and Barcelona legend announced his retirement from international football, saying the next Copa America and World Cup will not be the same without him.

Mourinho, the Portuguese coach of Real Madrid, responded to a statement Messi published on his official Instagram account. The Argentina captain used the message to confirm that he had decided to end his career with the national team following a period of deep reflection.

“After all this time since the final match, and after thinking about it for a long time, I want to announce to everyone that I have decided to retire from playing for the national team,” Messi wrote.

He acknowledged the personal cost of the decision and said it remained painful, while also accepting that the moment had arrived to step away.

“It was a painful decision and it still hurts me deeply, but I understand that the time has come,” Messi added. “I swear to you that I have always given everything I had, not only during the recent years in which we achieved everything, but before that as well. I have always fought and given everything I had for this shirt, to make you happy and to make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.”

Mourinho then posted a message beneath Messi’s statement, congratulating him on what he described as an outstanding international career and highlighting the effect his absence could have on the next two major competitions.

“Congratulations to you on a wonderful and unforgettable international career. The next Copa America and the next World Cup will not be the same without you,” Mourinho wrote.

Messi’s announcement brings an end to his time representing Argentina, according to the statement, after years in which he said he had continued to give his full commitment to the national-team shirt. His words also underlined that his decision was not limited to the period in which Argentina achieved its most significant successes, but reflected his efforts throughout his international career.

Mourinho’s response focused on the wider consequences for international football. Rather than simply marking Messi’s departure, the Real Madrid coach suggested that the forward’s absence would change the character and significance of Argentina’s appearances at both the next Copa America and the next World Cup.

Messi, who is now an Inter Miami player and remains closely associated with Barcelona, shared his decision directly with followers through Instagram. Mourinho chose that post as the place to offer his public farewell, describing Messi’s international career as impossible to forget.

The article’s readers were also invited to discuss the subject and other news stories in greater depth through the Kooora forums.