Zurich, Aug. 31 -- FIFA thanked legendary Argentine footballer Lionel Messi after he announced his retirement from international football in a social media post on Monday.

The FIFA World Cup account reacted to Messi's Instagram post with the comment, "Gracias, Leo."

Notably, 'gracias' means 'thank you' in Spanish.

The FIFA World Cup also thanked Messi in an X post, saying, "Thank you, Leo."

Messi, in an Instagram post, said he had made the call 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.

In an X post, AFA also thanked Messi for the memorable journey and lasting legacy he...