India, Sept. 1 -- Dear Leo Messi,

I had a strong feeling after the 2026 World Cup final on 20 July that it would be your last match in an Argentine jersey. But when the reality of your announcement last evening hit, it was still hard to digest. We always knew this moment would come, yet seeing you announce your retirement on Instagram left a void that is difficult to put into words.

And yet, there was also a sense of acceptance. Perhaps because of everything we were fortunate enough to witness in the final years of your career. After years of heartbreak in World Cup finals, Copa America finals and the agonising wait for that first major international trophy, those final few years turned into an absolute goldmine.

When the Copa America ...