FOLLOWING Lionel Messi’s decision to retire from international football, Jamaica Football Federation (JFF) President Michael Ricketts believes the Argentine legend has made a significant impact on Jamaican football through his exploits on the international stage.

Messi made the announcement in a statement on social media on Monday, bringing an end to his 21-year stint with the national team.

“This is one that hurts me a lot. I love, I loved, and I will always love being part of the national team. I gave everything I had, and I don’t have anything more to give,” he said.

“I leave with peace and pride, knowing that together with my teammates we gave you moments we once dreamed of. It was crazy to experience all of this with you. I love you! Thank you God for making me Argentine.”

The 39-year-old cemented his legacy in 2022 after guiding Argentina to the FIFA World Cup, ending a 36-year drought. He almost made it two World Cup title lifts in a row in this summer’s World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada but went down 1-0 to Spain in the final.

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi leaves as the country’s all-time leading goal scorer and most capped player with 125 goals in 207 appearances. He also led Argentina to the 2021 and 2024 Copa America titles and the gold medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Ricketts says Messi’s contribution on football, particularly in Jamaica, cannot be ignored.

Argentina’s Lionel Messi (right) gets away from Jamaica’s Damion Lowe during the international friendly football match at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey, on Tuesday, September 27, 2022. (Photo: AFP)

“Messi in contemporary football would be arguably the most talked about player and probably the most highly rated player right now. He would have impacted the lives of so many young boys and girls,” Ricketts told the Jamaica Observer. “If you walk around any township, you will always see somebody, some youngster wearing a shirt marked Messi and that just goes to show what sport generally, and what football in particular, can do to the psyche of a nation.”

“Every good thing must come to an end and it has been an era for Messi and even his impact on the just-concluded World Cup speaks volumes for his footballing skills and of course the impact that he would have made in global football. Truly, Messi has impacted not just Jamaica but the world.”

One of Messi’s milestone international games came against the Reggae Boyz, when he made his 100th appearance for Argentina in a 1-0 win at the 2015 Copa America in Chile.

Former national midfielder Jobi McAnuff played the full 90 minutes and swapped shirts with Messi at full time, which he says is one of the greatest moments of his career.

McAnuff, though, says he developed an even greater respect for the Argentine maestro after his kind gesture towards the entire Jamaican team following the game.

“There was a queue of Jamaican players, staff, everything, waiting for him outside the changing room,” he said. “He just took his time, signed every autograph, shaking hands, pictures, like [he was] class. He did not have to do that. They’re the little things for me that just set him apart for me, yes he’s a great footballer, but we come back to people as people and just respect that you can show to people.”

Argentina legend Lionel Messi swaps jerseys with Reggae Boyz midfielder Jobi McAnuff as Reggae Boyz kitman Norman Stone looks on following Argentina’s 1-0 win during the group stage of the 2015 Copa America in Chile. 

The Reggae Boyz would face off with Messi again seven years later in an international friendly in New Jersey, just months before lifting his first-ever World Cup title. Messi came off the bench and scored twice to lead Argentina to a 3-0 win.

“Everybody wanted to get to the touching distance of Messi — not even so much to touch him, but to get close to him — and a number of our players tried to embrace him, tried to take pictures with him. Our coaching staff really wanted to be identified with arguably one of the best footballers of all time,” Ricketts recalled.

“I don’t know if it’s fair to say we have lost an icon but he has now gone into retirement, but the name Messi will probably live forever in the minds of those who have an interest in the sport of football.”

Many players over the years have been dubbed the “next Messi”, including former Reggae Boy Chevone Marsh, who earned the nickname during his days at Cavalier FC and Calabar High.

Lionel Messi warms up before being subbed on for Inter Miami in the second leg of their Concacaf Champions Cup match against Cavalier at the National Stadium on Thursday, March 13, 2025. (Photo: Garfield Robinson)

Ricketts says the chances of the world producing another Messi are slim but hasn’t ruled it out, especially with the possibility that talent could come from Jamaica.

“What has happened in recent times is that coaching education now has improved leaps and bounds, not just locally, but throughout the Caribbean, throughout Concacaf and throughout the world,” he said.

“We would have established probably the best coaching education programme, so it’s not far-fetched. It’s not impossible but certainly, based on the newness of our coaching skills and our coaching workshops, it’s not far-fetched. It’s certainly not impossible.”