Argentina’s football community is preparing to honour two defining moments from one of the most remarkable eras in the country’s national-team history, with the Argentine Football Association announcing a special tribute to Lionel Messi while also establishing a permanent day to commemorate the national team’s historic World Cup victory over England.
The AFA has confirmed that every match across its men’s and women’s competitions on the next matchday will be stopped in the 10th minute for one minute of applause in recognition of Messi’s contribution to the Argentina national team.
The choice of the 10th minute is a symbolic reference to the No.10 shirt that Messi has worn throughout his international career and which has become inseparable from his identity in the blue and white of Argentina.
The tribute follows Messi’s decision to retire from international football after a 20-year career in which he became one of the most successful players in the history of the Argentina national team.
Lionel Messi celebrates during FIFA World Cup Group C clash between Argentina v Mexico. November 26, 2022 Photocredit:Reuters
Messi’s international journey ultimately produced the major honours that had eluded him for much of his career, including the Copa America, Finalissima and FIFA World Cup, while his leadership helped Argentina establish itself as one of the dominant national teams of the modern era.
The one-minute applause will therefore give supporters across Argentina an opportunity to recognise a player whose influence extended far beyond his performances on the pitch.
The AFA’s tribute will not be restricted to the men’s game, as matches in both men’s and women’s competitions will take part in the gesture, creating a nationwide moment of recognition for the Argentina captain.
While Messi’s career is being honoured through the symbolic use of his famous shirt number, the AFA has also chosen to permanently commemorate one of Argentina’s most significant victories from the same era.
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The association has established July 15 as National Football Teams Day to mark Argentina’s 2-1 victory over England in the semi-final of the 2026 World Cup.
According to the AFA, the decision was approved unanimously by its Executive Committee and is intended to recognise the importance of Argentina’s national teams and the historic significance of the victory.
Argentina had fallen behind England in the semi-final before producing a dramatic late comeback to secure a 2-1 victory and reach the World Cup final.
The result carried additional significance because of the long and politically charged history between the two countries, particularly their famous World Cup meeting in the 1986 quarter-final and the continuing dispute over the Falkland Islands.
Argentina will pause matches in the 10th minute to honour Lionel Messi, while the AFA has declared July 15 National Football Teams Day.
Argentina’s 2026 victory therefore became another important chapter in one of international football’s most recognisable rivalries, and the AFA has now chosen to give the date a permanent place in the national football calendar.
The new National Football Teams Day is broader than the senior men’s team, with the AFA intending July 15 to recognise Argentina’s national teams across different categories and disciplines.
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The two initiatives consequently preserve different aspects of Argentina’s recent football history. The 10th-minute tribute celebrates Messi and an extraordinary individual international career, while July 15 will serve as an annual reminder of the achievements of Argentina’s national teams.
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