Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, a decision that has attract comments from the football world.
Messi, 39, confirmed his retirement on Monday, after captaining his country to the World Cup final this summer, having previously won the tournament in 2022.
As the football world continue to react to the decision, Real Madrid manager Jose Mourinho has admitted he’ll miss watching Messi.
Mourinho — who is now back at Real Madrid for his second spell in charge — faced Messi’s Barcelona for three seasons in LaLiga between 2010 and 2013 in a ferocious El Clásico rivalry.
Lionel Messi looks dejected wearing the second place medal after the Final – FIFA World Cup 2026 match between Spain and Argentina. (Photo by Pablo Morano/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
“There are no words to describe his quality as a player,” Mourinho said on Thursday in a news conference, when asked about Messi’s departure from the international stage. “With what he did at the World Cup, at 39 years old … He’s a player we’ll miss. We’ll have to watch some MLS games to enjoy his last years, I don’t know if it will be a season, or seasons.
“He’s one of those players who, as I said the other day, you always miss. This [player], for our generation, over these last two decades, we all know what he represents.”
Mourinho who has begun his second spell as Madrid manager in flying colors, having collected nine points out of nine in the league, also spoke about defender Raúl Asencio.
Asencio was convicted of drink driving on Wednesday after being stopped by police in Gran Canaria last month.
The defender is also facing trial this week over the alleged distribution of sexually explicit videos of a minor.
“I spoke to him when I arrived, about things in the past,” Mourinho said . “At [Madrid’s training ground] Valdebebas, I’d say he’s an exemplary professional. When he’s been fit, nobody has trained better than him. Since being injured, he’s been the first to arrive, and the last to leave.
“But a Real Madrid player is a Real Madrid player 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 12 months a year. What you do outside your profession is still Real Madrid, and it hurts Real Madrid’s prestige, which is untouchable. What I’m saying is that I’m not happy. Everyone makes mistakes, but a series of mistakes is something else.
“The club has begun disciplinary proceedings, and for me as coach, while that process is ongoing I see him as a Real Madrid player. He’s injured, and he will be injured for a few weeks, minimum.”
