José Mourinho has paid an emotional tribute to Lionel Messi following the Argentine superstar’s decision to step away from international football, saying the next Copa América and World Cup will not feel the same without him.
The Portuguese manager knows better than most what it meant to prepare for Messi at the height of the Argentina captain’s powers. During Mourinho’s time in charge of Real Madrid, Messi was a constant threat in the fiercely contested matches against Barcelona. His dribbling, close control, acceleration and ability to create chances from seemingly impossible positions repeatedly forced opponents to devise specific plans to limit his influence.
Yet the rivalry that once placed Mourinho and Messi on opposite sides of some of football’s biggest matches has given way to admiration as the Argentine approaches the end of his international career.
Messi announced his decision to step away from the Argentina national team in a post on Instagram on Monday. The announcement carried a distinctly personal tone, with the veteran forward acknowledging how difficult the decision had been after years of representing his country at the highest level.
In his farewell message, Messi said that after considerable thought and time since his most recent final, he had decided that the moment had come to leave the national team.
He also reflected on the emotional weight of the decision, telling Argentina supporters that it remained painful but that he believed the time was right. Messi stressed that he had always given everything for the national shirt, not only during the years when Argentina achieved major honours, but also during the more difficult periods that preceded them.
His international journey was marked by both disappointment and remarkable success. For years, Messi faced intense scrutiny whenever Argentina fell short in major tournaments, particularly after a series of difficult final defeats. The criticism gradually faded as he helped transform Argentina’s fortunes on the international stage.
The breakthrough came with the 2021 Copa América, when Argentina defeated Brazil in the final to secure a major international trophy. Messi then reached another defining moment at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where Argentina defeated France in the final and claimed the country’s third World Cup title.
Messi’s performances throughout that tournament further strengthened his place among the greatest players in football history. His leadership and attacking contribution were central to Argentina’s campaign, while the triumph finally delivered the World Cup title that had eluded him for much of his career.
That success also changed the nature of the conversation surrounding Messi’s international career. A player who had once been judged largely through Argentina’s failures had become the captain who helped deliver the country’s most coveted prizes.
Mourinho’s response to Messi’s announcement was brief but significant. Commenting on the Argentine’s farewell post, the Portuguese coach congratulated him on what he described as an outstanding and unforgettable international career.
He then offered a striking assessment of what Messi’s departure could mean for international football, saying that the next Copa América and World Cup would not be the same in his absence.
The message carries particular weight because of Mourinho’s history with Messi. During his Real Madrid tenure, the Portuguese coach was frequently tasked with finding ways to contain Barcelona’s leading figure. Their rivalry was part of one of the most intense periods in Spanish football, when Real Madrid and Barcelona competed for domestic and European honours amid enormous global attention.
Mourinho’s tactical battles with Messi were therefore built around trying to reduce the Argentine’s space and influence. Years later, however, the tone has changed. With Messi’s international career entering its final chapter, Mourinho has chosen to focus on the extraordinary legacy left behind rather than the battles they once shared from opposing sides.
Messi’s departure would represent a significant change for Argentina as well as for international football. For more than a decade, major tournaments involving Argentina have been closely associated with his presence, with supporters around the world watching to see whether the captain could produce another decisive moment.
His record of achievement, longevity and influence has made him one of the defining figures of his generation. His absence will inevitably create a different dynamic for Argentina, while the world’s biggest international tournaments will lose one of their most recognisable stars.
For Mourinho, who once spent countless hours planning how to stop Messi, the farewell now provides an opportunity to acknowledge what the Argentine ultimately became: not merely a formidable opponent, but a player whose presence helped define an era of world football.
The rivalry may have begun with tactical battles and fierce competition, but Mourinho’s message suggests that it ends with respect. And, in his view, football’s biggest international stages will not quite be the same without Lionel Messi.
