Argentina is preparing one of the most emotional tributes in football history for the greatest of all time, Lionel Messi. In a gesture that perfectly matches the significance of the player’s iconic shirt number, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) has ordered matches across the country to be stopped at the 10th minute for a minute of applause in his honour. In Argentinian football, there is Maradona, and then there is Messi.
The tribute follows Messi’s decision to retire from international football after an extraordinary 21-year career with the Argentina national team. At 39, the legendary number 10 has brought an era to a close, leaving behind a record that has made him arguably the greatest footballer in Argentine history. Messi is Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and appearance holder, with 125 goals in 207 international matches.
The choice of the 10th minute is particularly symbolic. Messi has worn the famous No. 10 shirt for Argentina for years, turning the number into something far bigger than a jersey digit. It became synonymous with his left foot, his vision, his dribbling, his goals and, eventually, his leadership of the national team. The entire team worked around him when he won the World Cup, and reached another final.
According to the AFA directive, the tribute will not be limited to the top division. Matches across men’s and women’s football, futsal and beach football will observe the stoppage during the upcoming matchday. Stadiums equipped with large screens will also show a special tribute video before matches.
The first glimpse of the emotional gesture came during the Copa Argentina clash between the Argentinian clubs Boca Juniors and Vélez. When the clock reached 10 minutes, the referee stopped the game, and supporters from both sides applauded Messi. What began with some confusion quickly turned into a stadium-wide tribute for the Argentine icon.
For Argentina, Messi’s story is about far more than statistics. His international career began with criticism and heartbreaking defeats. In fact, many said he isn’t even close to Maradona, but then, Messi won everything there was to win. He lost major finals, briefly stepped away from international football in 2016 and endured years of comparisons with Diego Maradona. But he returned and eventually delivered the trophies Argentine supporters had desperately wanted.
The 2021 Copa América, the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Copa América transformed Messi’s relationship with the country. The player once accused by some of failing Argentina became the captain who finally lifted the World Cup trophy.
Now, whenever the clock reaches 10 minutes, an entire football nation will stop playing for a moment, not because of a referee’s decision, but because of what one man meant to Argentina. That is the legacy of the greatest player in football.
