Lionel Messi’s decision to retire from international football has prompted an outpouring of reaction across the football world, but one of the most poignant responses has come from his mother, Celia Maria Cuccittini.
Speaking about her son’s decision, Cuccittini said that while members of the family had known about his plans beforehand, the formal announcement still came as an emotional blow. For a family that has followed Messi’s extraordinary journey from his earliest days in football, the prospect of seeing him no longer wear Argentina’s shirt is difficult to accept.
Messi decided to end his international career after Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. At 39, the veteran forward felt the time had come to step aside and allow a younger generation to take greater responsibility within the national side.
In an interview with America TV, Cuccittini admitted that she was still struggling with the reality that her son would no longer represent Argentina.
“Whenever I look at them playing, I still get tears in my eyes,” she said. “Although we already knew about it, the whole family was very upset. The most important thing, though, is that he is well and happy.”
Her comments offered a glimpse into the personal side of a decision that has been discussed largely through the lens of football. For supporters, Messi’s retirement represents the end of one of the longest and most decorated international careers in the history of the game. For his family, it marks the closing of a chapter that began more than two decades ago.
Cuccittini also spoke about her late husband, Jorge Messi, who played an important role in supporting their son throughout his football career. She recalled that Jorge would often think about the day when Messi eventually stopped playing.
“He used to say, ‘When he no longer plays, what will I do?’” Cuccittini recalled.
Following Jorge Messi’s death, those words have taken on added emotional significance for the family. His memories remain closely connected with the remarkable journey that took Messi from a gifted young player to one of Argentina’s most celebrated sporting figures.
In his farewell message, Messi said he believed the time was right to make room for younger players. After years of carrying enormous expectations whenever he played for Argentina, he also stressed that he had given everything he could to the national team.
Messi made his Argentina debut on 17 August 2005 against Hungary. What followed was an international career spanning more than two decades, during which he became the country’s most prolific goalscorer and most-capped player.
He finished his international career with 207 appearances, 125 goals and 68 assists for Argentina. His achievements with the national team also include three major international titles: the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and the 2024 Copa América.
The 2022 World Cup triumph was particularly significant in Messi’s career. After years of near misses with Argentina, he finally lifted football’s most prestigious international trophy, completing a major part of his legacy with the national team.
His success in international football also transformed the narrative surrounding his Argentina career. Earlier in his international journey, Messi endured painful defeats in major tournaments and faced intense scrutiny whenever the national team fell short. The later years brought a dramatic change, with Argentina winning successive major titles and Messi emerging as the central figure in that successful period.
Now, with his international career coming to an end, the reaction from his mother reflects the emotional weight of the moment beyond statistics and trophies. For Argentina supporters, Messi’s departure closes an era. For his family, it is the end of a journey they have watched from the very beginning.
