'Thank you': Cricket fraternity react to Messi's retirement

Lionel Messi’s international retirement has sparked emotional reactions from the cricket fraternity. Former India cricketer Shikhar Dhawan paid tribute to the Argentina legend, saying the national team shirt “won’t feel quite the same without the No. 10.”

Other Indian cricket figures, including Kuldeep Yadav and Jay Shah, also reacted to Messi’s farewell. Their messages reflected the respect and admiration Messi has earned across different sports during his remarkable international career.

Messi announced his retirement from international football on August 31 at the age of 39. After a 21-year career with Argentina, he leaves as the team’s all-time leading scorer and appearance-maker. In this article, we will look at how the cricket fraternity reacted to the legendary footballer’s international retirement.

Lionel Messi announces retirement from international football at 39

Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football at the age of 39, bringing an end to his remarkable career with Argentina. His decision also led to emotional reactions from the cricket community, with several players paying tribute to the legendary footballer.

The Argentine superstar represented his team for more than two decades and became the country’s most-capped player and leading goalscorer. He made 203 appearances and scored 124 goals for his nation. His biggest achievement came in 2022 when he led Argentina to FIFA World Cup glory in Qatar, beating France in the final.

Messi had earlier announced his international retirement in 2016 after Argentina lost the Copa América final to Chile, but later returned to the national team. He went on to win the Copa América in 2021 and 2024, along with the 2022 World Cup, completing one of the greatest international careers in football history.