‘It Hurts’—Lionel Messi’s Retirement Plan Teased by Argentina Teammate

Argentina midfielder Leandro Paredes revealed that Lionel Messi had informed his teammates during the 2026 World Cup that he intended to retire from international football after the tournament. Paredes admitted it 'hurts' to have lost the World Cup final, with the squad having played the entire tournament believing it would be Messi's final international competition. Messi's future with the Argentina national team is now under intense scrutiny following the final defeat.