Stadium erupts as match paused in Argentina to honour Lionel Messi - Watch
Argentina has begun a series of tributes to Lionel Messi following his announcement that he will retire from international football after the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Referees will pause matches in the 10th minute to honor the legendary player's career.
Why it matters
Messi is widely considered one of the greatest athletes in history, and his retirement marks the end of a significant era for global football.
Argentina began paying tribute to Lionel Messi after the football great announced his retirement from international football earlier this week.The first tribute came during the Copa Argentina match between Velez Sarsfield and Boca Juniors on Wednesday, when play was stopped in the 10th minute for a round of applause at the Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes.Fans across the stadium stood and applauded Messi, bringing the game to a halt for a brief moment.Two of Messi's former Argentina teammates, Leandro Paredes and Manuel Lanzini, were on the pitch during the tribute.The match later ended 0-0, with Boca Juniors winning the penalty shootout 4-3.The tribute follows a decision by the Argentine Football Association, which announced that referees will stop play in the 10th minute of every match in the upcoming round of the Clausura tournament, as well as in other men's and women's competitions across the country, to honour Messi's international career.Messi announced…
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