Messi slams World Cup conspiracy theories, tells Argentina to stay united

Lionel Messi slammed the conspiracy theories around Argentina's run to the 2026 World Cup final and urged the fans to remain united with the team as he retired from international football.Messi slammed on the theories surrounding Argentina's World Cup 2026 run (Courtesy: Reuters)Lionel Messi slammed the conspiracy theories surrounding Argentina's run in the 2026 World Cup and urged the fans to stay united and support Argentina as he brought down the curtain on his international career on Wednesday, October 7. The message contained a little bit of everything from the Argentine superstar as he was straightforward with his words to an emotional crowd inside the stadium.Messi ran the show on an emotional night as Argentina hammered Benin 3-0 at the Monumental in Buenos Aires. Messi assisted two and then capped off the win with a penalty in front of the fans, who cheered him on with every touch he made on the night.As soon as the match was done and after a drone show and a musical performance, Messi was given the chance to speak to the fans and his teammates. Messi started by remembering his late father, Jorge, who sadly passed away in August. LIONEL MESSI FAREWELL SPEECH"I have no choice but to thank you, as I told the president earlier, for not allowing me to give up, even during the worst moments we have gone through. And I swear to you, I would love to come here with them for the rest of my life. Because being a player for Argentina is the most beautiful thing that can happen." "As much as I want to be here for the rest of my life, I feel that, after everything, I would like to spend my whole life here. I feel that it is over. The last World Cup was too much. We were so close to fulfilling my dream and the dream of the entire country, to win the World Cup again.""We were so close to becoming champions. In the last World Cup, we were very close. Nothing strange happened." "The match against England was an enormous amount of stress for us. Many theories and different narratives emerged after the World Cup. Emotionally and physically, we reached our limits. We fought with all our strength, together with all the teammates we have had.""We fought all our lives, but we won and we didn't do it. I have no doubt that I and all my teammates always gave everything in that match. I want to thank all my teammates for all the time we spent together with these players.""It wasn't because of me; you made it happen. My dream came true. You helped me.""At the World Cup, in the Copa America, in the finals, in everything we played. It was an enormous honour for me to go out and compete, and to compete against anyone, because I knew that I had to give my life for it. I don't know, I have probably forgotten many things that I would like to say to you, but at this moment I am going to be apart.""I am going to explode with emotion. I am going to forget all of this. I have played all over the country. At every event. We received so much love, from the first day until the last.""I am very grateful for everything I have experienced. All this time, everywhere I have been, the stadium has been incredible. It doesn't matter what the match was, the World Cup, the Copa America — you have been there everywhere.""We know how difficult it is to be in the stadium, to travel, to go to tournaments. You have always done it. We have played at home and everywhere else.""Surely, once again, this will be the saddest day of my life. Of my career. I am going to miss you so much.""I am going to miss the colours of the national team. But I will be by your side, supporting these kids, these young players and whoever comes next. We will always be united.""When we are united, we are stronger than anyone else. We can get through anything. But we will be united, and we have to remain united. To achieve the highest goals, we have to stay together. There are people who don't want to see this national team win. But we have to unite against them.""You can see what kind of group there is. When there isn't a strong group, it is very difficult to achieve anything. That's why we achieved everything we achieved.""The truth is, I am talking more than ever. The truth is, I don't want to leave here. I don't want to leave the pitch. I just want to tell you that I love you. I am going to miss you.""I will remain Argentine. And I am very grateful and proud to be Argentine. And proud to have fulfilled my dream with all of you," said Messi.- Ends