football

Messi retires from international football: ‘Eternal’ star praised by peers

The football world has paid homage to Argentina’s “eternal” superstar Lionel Messi following his decision to retire from the national team aged 39. Argentina’s record appearance maker and scorer, with 125 goals in 207 games, said on Monday the decision to end his international career “still hurts deep down” but that “the time has come.” FIFA president Infantino ‘must go’, says former UEFA boss Platini Venus Williams bows out of US Open with straight-sets defeat to Sofia Kenin Arsenal edge past troubled Aston Villa 1-0 as Saka scores only goal After the death of his father, Jorge, last month, Messi had said he had “serious doubts” about continuing to play football of any sort for “much longer”.