‘You deserved the love’: Lionel Messi’s wife Antonella Roccuzzo pays emotional tribute

NEW DELHI: Lionel Messi’s last match for Argentina turned into an emotional farewell in Buenos Aires with his wife Antonella Roccuzzo sharing a heartfelt message for the football superstar after his international career ended.Messi scored a penalty to set up two more goals for Argentina as they beat Benin 3-0 on Tuesday. Soon after the match, Roccuzzo took to Instagram to celebrate the love Messi received from Argentina fans.“There are nights that explain a whole life. And last night was one of them. How beautiful it was to see you surrounded by so much love, so many people thanking you and giving back everything you gave them for so many years. You deserved that love. You built it with your personality, humility, commitment and the heart you always gave for this jersey,” Messi’s wife Antonela wrote.“What a privilege to walk this journey by your side and what a thrill to see you close such a huge chapter in your life like this. Thank you for teaching us so much! We love you! @leomessi. With you always,” she said.

Messi’s 21-year Argentine journey comes to an end

The 39-year-old brought the curtain down on a 21-year international career with 126 goals and 208 appearances for Argentina.His list of major honors includes two Copa América titles and the 2022 World Cup.What was officially a friendly against Benin became a huge farewell event, with more than 85,000 fans turning up at Buenos Aires’ biggest stadium.The Argentine Football Federation promoted the match as “the last tango”. Former World Cup winners from Argentina’s 1978, 1986 and 2022 teams were also present to witness Messi’s final performance.When the match ended, Messi was visibly emotional as his teammates surrounded him. The stadium erupted in chants of “Olé, ole, ole, ole, Messi, Messi” while a banner in the center of the pitch called him “The Eternal Captain”.“The truth is I’m talking more than ever. I don’t want to leave here, I don’t want to leave this pitch,” Messi told the crowd, which roared as if he had scored a goal. “I just want to tell you that I love you, I will miss you and I am grateful to God that I am Argentine.

From criticism to becoming a hero of Argentina

Messi’s journey with Argentina has not always been full of praise.For years, some supporters questioned his commitment to the national team, as he moved from Rosario to Spain at the age of 13 and developed as a footballer at Barcelona.His calm personality has also been compared to the more outgoing character of Diego Maradona, who led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title.After Argentina suffered another major final defeat in 2016, Messi briefly retired from international football.His relationship with the fans changed significantly in 2021 when Argentina defeated Brazil to win the Copa América. Messi’s emotional reaction after the triumph became one of the defining moments of his international career.“The victory clearly disarmed his critics. That’s how soccer works in Argentina,” said Diego Murzi, a sports sociologist at Conicet, Argentina’s national scientific research council. “Criticism of things off the field goes hand in hand with defeats on the field.The following year, Messi finally lifted the World Cup in Qatar. The win ended Argentina’s long wait and cemented his place among the country’s greatest sporting heroes.“I’ll never forget it. I’ve never experienced anything like this, being there with everyone, celebrating together,” said Antonia Correa, 70, a kiosk owner, recalling the day as she waited for a bus in Buenos Aires on Tuesday. “We saw that he was not only an extraordinary player, but also an outstanding human being.”

A love story with Argentina

At the end of his international career, the relationship between Messi and Argentina changed completely.“I don’t know if there has ever been a love story between a player and a nation as big as the one you built,” his teammate Rodrigo De Paul wrote on Instagram.For many Argentines, Messi has become much more than just a footballer. His greatest victories provided the country with moments of happiness during years of political and economic hardship.“Argentinians often say, ‘Thank God I was born at a time when I could experience the miracle of watching Messi play,'” said Andrés Rabinovich, a scholar at the University of Chicago who has studied the role of soccer in Argentine culture. “It’s hard to live in Argentina. Football is often one of the few things that offer you a little respite, joy.”Messi will now continue his club career at Inter Miami.