![Cricketers pay tribute to Lionel Messi after his international retirement [Source: AFP, IG]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1788244624614_LionelMessi.jpg?type=hq)
Cricketers pay tribute to Lionel Messi after his international retirement [Source: AFP, IG]
In a sudden development, legendary Argentine footballer Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football. His goodbye left the cricket community saddened as they paid tribute to the legend on social media.
Messi represented Argentina for roughly two decades, becoming the country's most iconic footballer and eventually achieving the biggest prize in international football, winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Even in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Argentina finished as runners-up. However, just weeks after Messi lost his father, he decided to hang up his Argentina jersey.
Cricketers react to Lionel Messi’s retirement
Having said that, Lionel Messi had a huge fanbase in India, including a significant following from the cricket community.
After his retirement confirmation, cricketers like Yuvraj Singh, Kuldeep Yadav and Shikhar Dhawan paid a tribute to him on social media.
Yuvraj said that football would remember Messi long after his final whistle. On the other hand, Kuldeep, who is also a Barcelona fan, reposted a video from Messi's account that traced his journey from a young boy in Rosario, Argentina, to becoming a World Cup-winning captain.
"There are very few who become legends while they are still writing history. You are one of them, Leo. What a phenomenal career! The game will remember you long after the final whistle," Yuvraj wrote in caption.
![Kuldeep Yadav, Yuvraj Singh's IG stories [Source: IG]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1788244766735_LionelMessiKuldeepYadav.jpg?type=mq)
Kuldeep Yadav, Yuvraj Singh's IG stories [Source: IG]
Dhawan, meanwhile, recalled Messi’s legacy and called him a legend. Apart from this, IPL franchises’ social media handles also posted their heartfelt reactions.
ICC chair Jay Shah also posted a congratulatory note for Messi:
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When Messi met cricket
Interestingly, Lionel Messi was introduced to cricket in 2025 when he visited India for the G.O.A.T tour. He met legend Sachin Tendulkar and shared the stage with him at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
During the same India tour, Messi, Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul received Indian cricket jerseys from ICC chairman Jay Shah, along with tickets for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Though he was supposed to play football with Indian cricketers, including MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, during the tour, that plan eventually didn’t pan out.
Lionel Messi’s visit caused chaos in Kolkata
Meanwhile, the G.O.A.T India tour of Lionel Messi had begun on a horrific note. His first stop at the Salt Lake Stadium in Kolkata descended into disorder after thousands of ticketholders became frustrated with the event’s organisation.
Messi’s appearance was much shorter than expected, and many fans complained that they could barely see him because of the crowd of VIPs, officials and security personnel surrounding him.
The situation escalated after Messi left. Angry spectators threw bottles, ripped out seats, damaged parts of the stadium and invaded the pitch, forcing police to intervene. The event was effectively abandoned after roughly 20 minutes.
Later, the government ordered an inquiry and the chief organiser, Satadru Dutta, was detained by Kolkata police following the unrest. Recently, current West Bengal chief minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that ticket holders of the Lionel Messi event will receive a full refund.
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