Guwahati, Aug. 31 -- Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday reacted to Lionel Messi's announcement of retirement from international football, describing it as the end of an era and expressing his admiration for the Argentine legend.

Messi, in an Instagram post on Monday, said he had made the call to retire just two days after Argentina's 2026 FIFA World Cup final defeat to Spain. He also said the death of his father, Jorge Messi, influenced his decision, bringing an extraordinary chapter of his career to an end.

CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, in an X post, called Messi's retirement the end of an era, thanking him for his magical career and describing himself and his family as heartbroken fans. He hailed Messi as the "GOAT for life....