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Argentine football will pause matches in the 10th minute this weekend to honour Lionel Messi following his international retirement.
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The AFA has called for a minute of applause across men’s and women’s competitions, futsal and beach soccer.
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Vélez Sarsfield and Boca Juniors have already staged the tribute during their Copa Argentina clash.
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Messi retires from international football as Argentina’s record appearance holder and leading goalscorer, with three major trophies to his name.
September 03, (THEWILL) — Argentine football will literally stop to honour Lionel Messi this weekend.
Across the country, matches will be brought to a halt in the 10th minute as players, officials and supporters join in a minute of applause for the Argentina legend, whose international career has finally come to an end.
The tribute was ordered by the Argentine Football Association (AFA), with the timing chosen deliberately to reflect the No. 10 shirt Messi made his own during more than two decades with the national team.
It is a simple gesture, but one carrying enormous symbolism. For an entire generation of Argentine supporters, the number 10 has been inseparable from Messi.
Simplesmente pararam o jogo entre Boca Juniors x Velez Sarsfield no minuto 10 para homenagearem o Messi com 1 minuto de aplausos
O legado do Leo é uma parada surreal pic.twitter.com/sZKpFQzHNo
— Central Lamine Yamal (@CentralDoYamal) September 3, 2026
Another Tribute For Argentina’s Great
The nationwide celebration will not be the first time Argentine football has stopped for Messi.
During the Copa Argentina clash between Vélez Sarsfield and Boca Juniors, referee Sebastián Zunino halted the match when the clock reached 10 minutes.
Players and supporters then applauded Messi as the stadium turned its attention to the country’s departing superstar.
That moment offered a preview of what fans can expect across Argentina this weekend.
The AFA has instructed referees to stop matches during the 10th minute of the first half throughout the next matchday.
The tribute will not be restricted to the men’s top flight either, with the directive extending to men’s and women’s competitions as well as futsal and beach soccer.
Stadiums with video screens have also been asked to display a special tribute video before matches.
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End of an Extraordinary International Career
Messi’s farewell comes after an international career that transformed from one of Argentina’s greatest disappointments into one of its greatest success stories.
He made his senior debut in 2005 and spent years carrying the enormous expectations of a football-mad nation.
For a long period, however, major international success remained frustratingly out of reach.
Argentina lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany and suffered consecutive Copa America final defeats in 2015 and 2016.
Messi’s decision to briefly retire from international football after the 2016 defeat appeared to signal the end of his Argentina story.
He returned, and everything changed.
Messi finally lifted a major international trophy when Argentina won the 2021 Copa America.
The following year brought the defining achievement of his career as he captained La Albiceleste to World Cup glory in Qatar.
He scored seven goals during the tournament, including twice in the final against France, as Argentina won their third World Cup.
Another Copa America triumph followed in 2024, while Argentina also defeated Italy in the 2022 Finalissima.
By the time Messi walked away, he had accumulated the silverware that had once been missing from his extraordinary résumé.
Messi Leaves as Argentina’s Record Holder
Messi retires as Argentina’s most-capped player and all-time leading goalscorer.
He finished his international career with 207 appearances and 125 goals, numbers that underline the extraordinary longevity and consistency of his time with the national team.
His final appearance came in the 2026 World Cup final against Spain, where Argentina suffered defeat before Messi subsequently confirmed his international retirement.
At 39, the decision closes one of the most remarkable chapters in Argentine football history.
Olumide Atiba is a sports journalist with THEWILL, known for his keen news sense and compelling storytelling. He has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, well-structured reports that resonate with readers, with a strong focus on football coverage
