Mourinho was never one for easy praise toward Messi. They faced each other time and again when the Portuguese was managing Chelsea and Real Madrid. That’s why his comment on Instagram caused such a stir.
🗣️ “Congratulations on a brilliant and unforgettable international career. The next Copa América and the next World Cup won’t be the same”, wrote the Real Madrid manager as soon as Messi announced his retirement from the Argentina national team, at the age of 39.
The decision, as Messi himself explained, was made on July 21, two days after the defeat in the 2026 World Cup final against Spain. Weeks later, on August 8, his father Jorge Messi, died at the age of 68 after a long illness. He said it was a painful moment, but that he felt it was time to make way for the younger players. Some interpreted Mourinho’s gesture as pure respect between legends. Others thought they saw an indirect reference to what lies ahead without him on the field.