Kareena Kapoor Khan Joins Global Tributes as Messi Retires from Argentina Duty
Kareena Kapoor Khan reacts to Lionel Messi's retirement from Argentina, joining global tributes. She met Messi in India last year.
Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor Khan has joined the wave of tributes pouring in for Lionel Messi following his announcement of retirement from international football. The Argentine captain made the announcement on August 31, 2026, bringing an end to a storied 21-year career with the national team.
Kareena expressed her admiration by leaving a string of red heart emojis in the comments section of Messi's retirement post on social media. Her reaction comes months after she met the football icon during his three-day promotional visit to India in December last year. She had posed for photographs with Messi alongside her sons, Taimur and Jeh.
Malayalam actor Indrajith Sukumaran also paid tribute, sharing Messi's emotional video message on social media with a caption that read, "Thank you" followed by a red heart emoji.
Messi's retirement marks the end of an era for Argentina. He leaves as the nation's record appearance-maker and top scorer, with 207 appearances and 125 goals to his name. His journey spanned from a teenage debut in 2005 to leading the team to World Cup glory.
In his farewell post, Messi spoke of the difficulty of the decision, noting that the recent loss of his father reinforced his conviction to step aside for the next generation. He expressed pride in his service to the team, saying he always gave everything for the shirt and for the Argentine people.
"I leave with peace and pride, knowing that together with my teammates we gave you moments we once dreamed of," he wrote.
Messi's international legacy includes six FIFA World Cup appearances between 2006 and 2026, amassing 21 goals in the tournament. He led Argentina to victories at the 2021 Copa America, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and the 2024 Copa America.