Retirement: ‘I’m truly sad’ – Hansi Flick reacts as Messi leaves international football

Barcelona manager, Hansi Flick has expressed his sadness over Lionel Messi’s retirement from international football.

The German coach praised the 39-year-old as the world’s best player, noting that the Argentine icon reaffirmed this status at the recently concluded FIFA World Cup.

In an interview with DAZN on Monday, Flick said he enjoyed watching Lionel Messi during the World Cup.

He consistently maintained that the Inter Miami captain is the best player in the world.

He said, “Time flies. That’s how it is, and of course, he’s the best player in the world, so it’s unbelievable. I also greatly enjoyed his performance in the World Cup. He was fantastic.

“On the one hand, I’m truly sad, but in the end, that’s life, and he’s had a fantastic career. He is the best player in the world, and he proved it during the World Cup.”

Messi had suggested that he would retire following the FIFA World Cup, but he made it official on August 31. He shared an emotional message on his Instagram account, featuring a photo of the extensive note he had written before posting it online.

The national team captain, who led his country to two Copa America titles and one FIFA World Cup victory, revealed that he made the decision days after the 2026 final loss to Spain.

He indicated that the announcement was initially planned for July, but he postponed it due to the passing of his father, stating:

Lionel Messi represented the national team 207 times, scoring 125 goals throughout his international career, which spanned more than two decades.