•Argentina’s forward #10 Lionel Messi waves [bye – bye to football career] as he leaves the pitch after winning the 2026 World Cup Group J football match between Argentina and Austria at the Dallas Stadium in Arlington on June 22, 2026. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)

Lionel Messi has officially announced his retirement from international football after winning 207 caps for Argentina.

In a statement posted on his Instagram account, Messi wrote:“It was a decision that hurt – and still hurts deep down – but I understand that the time has come. I swear to you that I always gave it my all – not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too; I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.

“Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply. I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the national team.

I’ve given everything I had; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming up who deserve to be here.”

The 39-year-old said after the death of his father, Jorge, this month that he had “quite a few doubts about whether I’m going to keep doing it for much longer”.

Messi, who made his Argentina debut in 2005, won the World Cup in 2022 and was a runner-up this summer and in 2014.He also secured two Copa América titles

[File photo] Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme

‎The National Sports Commission (NSC) has appointed Dr Emmanuel Ikpeme as Acting General -Secretary of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), following a major leadership shake-up in the country’s football governing body.‎

‎Ikpeme, who previously served as the NFF Deputy General – Secretary, will oversee the federation’s secretariat during the transition period, while Dr Ademola Olajire, former Director of Media and Communications, will serve as Acting Deputy General -Secretary.

‎The appointments followed the resignations on Thursday of NFF President Alhaji Ibrahim Musa Gusau, General – Secretary Dr Mohammed Sanusi, and several members of the federation’s Executive Committee.‎‎

The NSC also suspended all processes initiated for the NFF Elective Congress scheduled for September 27.

The President of Nigeria Football Federation( NFF), Ibrahim Gusau, and other board members have resigned.

The NFF board had come under intense pressure following the poor management of Nigerian football.

The latest debacle was the failure of the Super Falcons to qualify for the FIFA Women World Cup for the first time.

The Department of State Services, DSS, joined other security operatives in investigating the NFF over the utilisation of the N17bn Federal Government intervention fund released to the Federation for players’ wages and bonuses.

The fund was approved by President Bola Tinubu in 2024 to clear outstanding payments owed to Nigeria’s national teams.

An authoritative source said on Monday, that the DSS had beamed their searchlight on officials of NFF to show proof on what they did with the massive fund released to the Glass house.

It’s a normal thing for DSS to go through all documents relating to the funds released them,” our source said, dismissing fears of witch hunt or hounding.

The latest probe comes amid persistent public concerns over the administration of Nigerian football teams that have suffered severe systemic decline, highlighted by the Super Eagles missing consecutive FIFA World Cups and the historic failure of the Super Falcons to qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil.