Messi honoured in the 10th minute of the next matchday across Argentina, after Lionel Messi announced that he was closing his international career with the national team. Under the Argentine Football Association (AFA) plan, referees will stop play when the clock reaches the 10th minute, allowing players, coaching staff and spectators to applaud Messi’s contributions for one minute. The programme applies to men’s and women’s competitions, association football, futsal and beach soccer; it does not mean that every match in Argentina will stop in the 10th minute permanently (according to Buenos Aires Herald).
How will Argentina honour Messi in the 10th minute?
The announcement was made in early September 2026, just days after Messi confirmed that he would leave the Argentina national team following the 2026 World Cup. The AFA instructed matches on the next matchday to pause in the 10th minute, after which the entire stadium would applaud for approximately one minute. The tribute is being rolled out widely, from professional competitions to tournaments within the men’s and women’s football systems.
Notably, this is not merely a ceremony for an official farewell match involving the national team. Clubs across Argentina are taking part, turning the tribute into a community-wide event. Boca Juniors’ match against Vélez in the Copa Argentina was among the first fixtures to record applause in the 10th minute; players, coaching staff and spectators all paused to turn their attention to Messi (according to Infobae).
For Vietnamese readers, it is important to understand precisely that this is a tribute held on the next matchday, not a permanent rule applied throughout the entire season. The phrase “every match in Argentina” refers to the scope of this homenaje, covering multiple divisions and different football disciplines.
Why did the AFA choose the 10th minute?
Messi’s iconic shirt number
The 10th minute was chosen because it is directly associated with the shirt number Messi turned into an icon in Argentina colours. The No. 10 shirt once belonged to Diego Maradona, so Messi not only inherited a familiar number but also continued a uniquely important tradition in the country’s football history.
For more than two decades, the No. 10 has accompanied Messi at Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Inter Miami and with the Argentina national team. When play stops in the 10th minute, the message is clear: supporters are honouring the player who made that shirt number almost synonymous with the name Lionel Messi.
A farewell after a complete journey
Messi leaves the national team having completed a major trophy collection with Argentina. He won the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup, the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the 2024 Copa América. The AFA records Messi as having made 207 appearances and scored 125 goals for Argentina in a profile updated after the 2026 World Cup (according to Asociación del Fútbol Argentino).
Notably, Messi has appeared at six World Cups and became the tournament’s all-time leading scorer after surpassing Miroslav Klose’s mark at the 2026 World Cup. FIFA also recognises him as one of the few players to score at multiple consecutive World Cups and as a central figure in Argentina’s 2022 title-winning campaign (according to FIFA).
To follow the statistical rivalry between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, you can also read the race to 1,000 goals between Messi and Ronaldo.
Messi’s legacy in Argentine and global football
The significance of the 10th-minute applause lies in more than the number of trophies. Messi spent years facing questions about whether he could succeed with Argentina, particularly after defeats in the 2015 Copa América, the 2016 Copa América Centenario and the 2014 World Cup finals. He then won a succession of major honours alongside a new generation of teammates, creating Argentina’s most successful period in modern football.
Messi also changed how fans assess a forward. He did not merely score goals; he orchestrated play, created chances, stretched defences and controlled the tempo of matches. His goalscoring and assist records therefore reflect only part of his influence. In many matches, Messi’s greatest value lay in his ability to make the entire attacking system operate more effectively.
Argentina’s nationwide tribute shows that Messi has moved beyond the status of a famous footballer. He has become a sporting and cultural symbol, linked to national pride and memories of the 2022 World Cup triumph. You can also read a complete comparison of Messi’s and Ronaldo’s careers to place his achievements in the context of modern football.
However, the tribute should not be understood as an official declaration that Messi has retired completely. The current information concerns his departure from the national team; his club career at Inter Miami is a separate matter and may continue to change.
Summary table of Messi’s career achievements
The table below summarises Messi’s major team honours and selected milestones, based on official sources updated through 2026. Club statistics may differ between databases depending on whether youth teams, friendly matches and non-professional competitions are included.
| Period/club or team | Key achievements | Notable milestones |
|---|---|---|
| Barcelona | 35 trophies | Four Champions League titles, 10 La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey titles, three FIFA Club World Cups, three UEFA Super Cups and eight Spanish Super Cups; 778 appearances and 672 goals according to the AFA |
| Paris Saint-Germain | Three trophies | Two Ligue 1 titles and one French Super Cup |
| Inter Miami | Three major trophies listed by the AFA | 2023 Leagues Cup, 2024 Supporters’ Shield and 2025 MLS Cup |
| Argentina national team | Four major international honours | 2021 Copa América, 2022 Finalissima, 2022 World Cup and 2024 Copa América |
| Argentina youth teams | Two honours | 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup and 2008 Beijing Olympic gold medal |
| Individual achievements | Numerous club and international records | Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer; Argentina’s most-capped player; one of the leading goalscorers in World Cup history |
The total number of team trophies commonly attributed to Messi may vary depending on how youth competitions, super cups and national-team honours are counted. What is undisputed is that Messi won 35 titles with Barcelona, three with PSG, domestic and international honours with Inter Miami, and an extensive collection with Argentina (according to the Argentine Football Association (AFA)).
Readers who want to keep track of related records can follow the football records section and articles about Lionel Messi. These sources help distinguish official honours, individual records and statistics from different stages of his career.
Conclusion: The minute-long applause in the 10th minute was a collective thank-you to Messi after he concluded his journey with the Argentina national team. It was rich in symbolism, linking the number 10 shirt, Maradona’s legacy and the titles Messi brought to his country. Although his club career may continue, the most significant chapter between Messi and the Argentina national team has been closed with a ceremony befitting his stature.
Reference source
- Lionel Messi: dos décadas de grandeza y un legado para siempre — Asociación del Fútbol Argentino.
- El hombre que cambió la historia del fútbol mundial: 39 años de Lionel Messi — Asociación del Fútbol Argentino.
- Lionel Messi | Top scorer | Argentina — FIFA.
- AFA to honor Lionel Messi with applause in 10th minute of all matches — Buenos Aires Herald.
- Así fue el homenaje a Messi a los 10 minutos del duelo entre Boca Juniors y Vélez — Infobae.
