Argentina football legend, Lionel Messi, has drawn the curtain on his international football with Argentina after an illustrious career with the South American nation.

The 39-year-old made a total of 207 appearances, announced his retirement on Monday.

He won the World Cup in 2022, and was a runner-up in 2026 and 2014. He also secured two Copa América titles.

Messi wrote in a statement, “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.”

Messi, who made 207 appearances and reached three World Cup finals, is widely regarded by fans worldwide as the greatest footballer ever.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has ordered a comprehensive reform of Nigerian football to ensure the national football team overcome repeated failures to qualify for major regional, continental and world tournaments.

“The reform must respond to a longstanding need to strengthen governance, administration, stakeholder representation, development pathways, domestic competitions and accountability across Nigerian football,” he said.

Tinubu, according to a statement on Thursday by Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesperson, made the decision to help the country “overcome repeated failures to qualify for major regional, continental and world tournaments”.

“Football, Nigeria’s most popular sport and the greatest beneficiary of public support, investment and national attention, has continued to struggle basically due to structural deficits within the system,” the president said.

The President noted that while other sports had recorded meaningful progress since the reset of the sports sector under the re-established National Sports Commission, football has continued to struggle because of structural weaknesses within the system.

He stressed that Nigerian football must begin to match the country’s exceptional talent, passion and resources with stronger institutions and sustained performance.

President Tinubu directed the Chairman of the National Sports Commission to work with the NFF Secretariat and relevant football stakeholders to ensure continuity in essential football administration and facilitate a broad, consultative reform process.

The process will include appropriate engagement with FIFA and CAF while safeguarding Nigeria’s obligations within the international football framework.

The President called on football stakeholders and Nigerians to support the transition and work together to build a stronger, more accountable and successful football system.

Arsenal has kicked off the defence of its last season’s title with a 3-0 win against Coventry City.

The EPL champions picked up from where they left off last season with goals from Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, and Martin Odegaard against the newly promoted side.

The win is the Gunners’ eighth consecutive home win over Coventry, on their return to the EPL after a 25-year absence.

Havertz scored the first goal of the season on 15 minutes when he swept home Ricardo Calafiori’s low cross with a first-time effort into the bottom corner to hand Arsenal the deserved lead. Saka doubled the lead midway through the half with a simple tap-in at the far post after the goalkeeper parried a deflected cross into his path to ensure Arsenal went into the break with a comfortable two-goal cushion.

Mikel Arteta’s side sealed all three points with the third goal just four minutes into the second half. Odegaard was well positioned to receive Ben White’s cutback and his scuffed shot trickled over the line to ensure the fans started the title defence season with celebrations.

Arsenal’s win continued the record of EPL champions winning their first match of the season, and it was their fifth straight clean sheet. It is also Arsenal’s fifth consecutive season securing victory on the first matchday of the season.

Arsenal travel to Aston Villa for matchday two, while Coventry will host Hull City, a fellow newly-promoted club.