Lionel Messi
Photo by thenews2.com - Depositphotos

Lionel Messi has reflected on how he hopes to be remembered by the footballing world after officially drawing the curtain on his illustrious international career with Argentina earlier this month.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, who captained the Albiceleste to their memorable triumphs on the global stage, spoke with candid humility regarding the legacy he leaves behind.

"I want to be remembered as a great sportsman who always fought to achieve his goals and dreams," Messi told Spanish news agency EFE. "Sometimes I succeeded in achieving what I wanted, sometimes I didn’t… but I never stopped trying to win everything that was in front of me."

While his international chapter has now officially reached its conclusion, the 39-year-old forward continues to show an enduring appetite for the game at club level. Messi has shown little sign of slowing down for Inter Miami throughout 2026, registering an impressive 25 goals and providing 12 assists across 27 appearances for the MLS outfit.