Ashley

carbonfiverr@carbonfiverr

Reposted by @cinemashes

☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★16h ago

I’ve written this before the game, while i usually do tend to go for long reviews of games, i think this is the one time I’ll forget about the game completely. End of the day, whatever the result, it is a goodbye to the greatest footballer of all time, luckily only for the national team. So i will try to keep this mostly about the national team. August 17 2005 he made his debut for the national team. Of course if we look back from now he obviously has had a successful national team career, with two Copa America’s and a World Cup, including two more World Cup final appearances too. But just over 10 years ago he decided to retire on the spot after losing to Chile in the Copa America final, where he missed a penalty in the shootout too. I remember that day very well to be honest, it felt truly insane that he decided to quit. But, to the relief of i hope every football fan, he reversed that decision. Since then Argentina has become one of the most dominant teams despite not having the quality in every position, but just one brilliant little man is enough. Fact is that this goes beyond any goat debate that ever existed, it goes beyond any hate or love for players, and if you like it or not the greatest player to have walked this earth ends his national team career today. It might not be his toughest fixture against Benin, but it’s special regardless. I’m not the type of person usually to be watching a game for just one player, and when i do it was usually for a classic 10 like Isco, James, or Özil. Or Godts of course, can’t leave that beautiful man out of this. But Messi absolutely is one of those players, he’s the player you open a bottle of wine or whiskey for and just sit back and enjoy. You’ll be seeing things that are so unbelievably incredible which he makes look easy. Football is called the beautiful game, and Messi is why.

Player of the match

Lionel Messi

Argentina

caramelchaitea@caramelchaitea

Reposted by @cinemashes

A decade ago, I randomly decided to watch a football game and somehow landed on an El Clásico. I didn’t know much about football but even little me could recognize the outrageous talent I was watching. I knew I was watching someone special without imagining how much that moment would mean to me. I didn't need trophies to convince me of your worth. I could just see it. Lionel Messi, you are the reason I fell in love with football. You made me fall in love with Barça and made me care about Argentina too. I never thought I’d support a club and national team I have no relation with so passionately but you made both feel like a part of me. Over the years you took us on this incredible journey. I still go back and watch games from your earlier years. I’ve cried watching you give everything and still fall short and smiled through tears when you finally won what you deserved. Every win felt strangely personal, like I was celebrating something I had fought for too. I remember crying when you won in 2022. Who would've thought I could care this much? THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER MESSI. Tonight I’m crying because I can’t imagine football without you but I’m proud too. You conquered it all and gave us memories we’ll never forget. Knowing you get to end your career having achieved everything makes it easier to let go. My father used to tell me stories of watching Maradona. Someday I’ll tell my kids “I WATCHED PRIME MESSI!" I’ll tell them how lucky I was to witness it. I just hope you know what you’ve given us. Every fan who truly understands this sport and every kid wearing your number 10 knows your worth. You gave millions of us joy. You made us believe, cry, laugh, scream and fall in love with this sport. It’s an honor to have lived in the same era as you. Thank you, Leo. It’s painful to let go but it was a privilege watching you. There will never be another you. YOU ARE THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME🐐🩵💙❤️

Player of the match

Lionel Messi

Argentina

flickyflacka@flickyflacka

Reposted by @cinemashes

It’s over. 💔🥀 Thank you for everything, Leo. 🩵 For my first love. For my hero. For my idol. For my inspiration. For THE GOAT.🐐 Thank you for giving us a lifetime of memories, emotions, and moments that will live forever. You weren’t just a footballer. You were a part of our lives. Eternally grateful that I was born at the right time to witness your greatness, your magic, and your entire journey. What a privilege it was to watch you play. 🐐 Happy farewell, Leo 🥺❤️

Player of the match

Lionel Messi

Argentina

Reposted by @cinemashes

jup@jup

the greatest joys of our lives are often not appreciated until it’s all in the past. growing up in a south american football household, messi was always a name spoken within our conversations. whether in a positive or negative light, his name was always somewhere to be found. “did you see what messi did?” “i can’t believe that messi guy.” “i’ve always liked messi.” “i’ve always hated messi” no matter what it was, there was always an opinion. there was never one thing you could never deny though, his impact. without realizing it, i’ve seen the highs and lows with messi’s career with argentina. whether it was the sadness of 2014 and 2016 or the joy of 2022 and 2024. i was watching every game without realizing i was watching a one of a kind player grace the stage. today there is a stadium filled with thousands of people crying and shouting his name. but at one point in time, it was almost like the failures of that team grew thousands of people to hate the man. i could go on and on about his accomplishments that broke this and the crazy amount of records he’s broken but one thing i just want to highlight is his ability to make people believe. believe in your team. believe in your country. believe in yourself. despite all the odds life throws at you or the situations you are put in after it seems like the world tries to bring you down, you can truly make it. you can live your dreams and so so much more. this may be the end to his time in argentina but he will forever live in the history of the team. let this not be a sad ending but a celebration of all the good things that have happened. gracias leo. 🫶

Player of the match

Lionel Messi

Argentina

Reposted by @cinemashes

aadil@aadil

Superlatives are things used to describe the most exemplary of phenomena, but you do run out of those, And I did just now, I’ve ran out of it since 2017 infact, when he lifted that shirt after having a black eye, broken tooth, facing off against a side which threepeated as the kings of Europe, against the best in the world too at that time with Noodlehaired Ronaldo infact, I ran out of words, when he almost carried Barcelona by himself to a treble, that’s when I ran out of words, when at the age of 35, he led Argentina to a date with destiny and won the World Cup with a POTT campaign and going up against the best of the best the world had to offer, I ran out of words and well, When this year he went one level above and took Argentina to the World Cup final at the age of 39, 20 years after everything which has happened, 20 years after 8 Ballon D’Or’s, 4 Champions Leagues, 48 Major Honours, he infact probably played even better at this age than he did when he won the World Cup, Messi is an anomaly but it’s the anomaly that makes you push for the stars for he is the stars, you know it’s funny how much human beings can mean for other human beings like my body literally feels sick right now seeing you go, Leo, It’s fucking insane honestly, I think you have me a curse of sorts, making me love this sport so much because of you, so many sleepless nights, so many heartbreaks and so so so so many joyful moments. Lionel Andres Messi Cutticini, you are the greatest this sport has, will and ever see, we all love you so so much, so so much. The World Cup this year, you shone so so bright, brighter than players who are doing presidential campaigns for an honor you won 8 times, you are the best player in the world still and always will be. My chest hurts and everything but god I love you Lionel Messi, enjoy retirement now, you can rest with that crown held atop your head.

Reposted by @cinemashes

leslieee@leslieee

the last dance. el último tango. messi’s last match with argentina. a monumental and emotional moment. the amount of love and influence one player can have on an entire country says everything. his dream was to win a trophy with his country, and he did it. he’s won it all and given argentina memories that will last forever. thank you, leo, for your years of passion and everything you’ve given to your country and your people. he’ll forever be the goat. the #10 will always be legendary. gracias por todo, leo. 🇦🇷🐐

Player of the match

Lionel Messi

Argentina

Reposted by @cinemashes

apg@apg

☆☆☆☆☆★★★★★22h ago

I know this isn’t your last game ever, I know you’ll walk into Miami’s facilities and conducts business as usual. But there will be a piece of you left at Estadio Monumental. That’s what I’m scared of, you’ve always put your country first and rightly so. I’m afraid that without that drive for your nation you’ll leave us sooner rather than later. It pains me knowing that you’re just 4 hours away and I can’t be there every game to see you. Currently on crutches re-learning how to walk for the second time this year has sadly has kept me from going to see you play live. But the same motivation you gave me that drove me to get back on the field so many times before will be the same to motivate me to make that 4 hour drive and see you play again. My first time ever seeing you play I genuinely cried. Seeing the idol I grew up watching the greatest of all time standing just a couple yards away from me. It was like I had an endless amount of adrenaline. Though it was cut short due to an injury I will never forget that day and I don’t regret it for one second. You’re officially halfway retired and rather than lay here and cry listening to your voice crack trying to keep it together I just want to smile. Smile and thank you for all the memories, for all the hope, and for every fucking second I was able to watch you play. I want to thank God himself for not only giving me life on this beautiful planet with all these beautiful people, but for also giving me life during the same time as you to have the chance to witness you play this beautiful game, for making me fall in love with this sport, making me a Barcelona fan, and making me your fan. Leo thank you for everything you’ve done for every single person. I will be seeing you soon I promise you that. Hasta Luego Leyenda. 🐐🤎

Player of the match

Lionel Messi

Argentina

Reposted by @cinemashes

neuller@neuller

leo, four years ago, on december eighteenth, you moved me to tears in an argentina jersey for the first time. three months ago you did it again, and for the final time you’re doing it now. your love for both your country and the beautiful game shone radiantly through each and every international cap. i wish i could have started watching you sooner, in your prime, but i am so fortunate to have gotten to catch glimpses of it in these final years. an astounding testament to your skill and longevity. it’s hard to condense everything i want to say. in essence: the thought of a world cup without you is unconscionable. these past two decades you’ve led argentina to many victories, having to bear the brunt of every failure along the way. you can leave the world stage now knowing you’ve already conquered it. you brought joy to hundreds of millions on it. you’ll continue to do so off of it. my heart hurts when i think about how differently things could have gone this summer, but no one can ever say you didn’t give it everything you had. you defied all odds and expectations. there are no regrets. all we can do, all we have ever been able to do, is look forward. and i swear to god i’ll sit through every dogshit mls game ten times over for as long as you’re willing to play there. i often have this thought, resentful and naïve and selfish as it is, that one lifetime isn’t enough for you—for me, rather. i would give anything to watch you for another hundred years, another twenty-five world cups and copa américas. alas, while yours is a once-in-a-lifetime story, all stories must come to an end. isn’t that the whole appeal? as the sun sets upon a historic career, its light reflects off every cup and medal you’ve won for la albiceleste. what shines even brighter, even warmer, is the love of generations who were blessed with your football. gracias por todo, capitán, ídolo. as was once said four years ago, on december eighteenth, you have always been the point of difference. 🐐👑

Player of the match

Lionel Messi

Argentina

jackattack425@jackattack425

Reposted by @cinemashes

as Lionel Messi’s international career comes to an end, let’s not forget the road he has built and left behind for newer generations to look up to - that legacy he has cemented, marking him of course, the GREATEST OF ALL TIME! GRACIAS MESSI! 🩵🤍🩵🤍 🇦🇷🇦🇷🇦🇷

Player of the match

Lionel Messi

Argentina

Reposted by @cinemashes

zoria@zoria