Lionel Messi has bid farewell to the Argentina national team in an emotional match at the Estadio Monumental in Buenos Aires, scoring one goal and providing two assists in a victory against Benin.
A crowd of 85,000 fans gathered inside the stadium to acclaim the World Cup winning captain as he made his final appearance for his country.
Emotional scenes took place both inside and outside the venue throughout the evening. Following the match, Messi stated that wearing the national team jersey had been his dream, his pride, and his life. Former teammate Neymar also paid tribute, stating that he thanked Messi for making him love football even more.
International Football Results and Records
In other international football news, Cristiano Ronaldo apologized to the people of Portugal and stated that he remains available for selection by the national team. In the UEFA Nations League, England defeated the Czech Republic 3-0, with captain Harry Kane equaling goalkeeper Peter Shilton's record for the most appearances for the national team. Spain secured a 2-1 victory against Croatia behind a standout performance from Merino.
The Greece under-21 national team defeated Northern Ireland 1-0 in European championship qualifying to secure a spot in the play-offs. In France, Zinedine Zidane became the first national team manager in 22 years to remain undefeated in his first four matches. At the club level, Olympiacos forward Ayoub El Kaabi returned to training at the Rentis facility one month after undergoing surgery for an injury.
European Basketball and Euroleague Controversy
European basketball leaders met at Lake Como for historic discussions regarding the future of the sport. Euroleague officials rejected a proposal from the NBA, describing it as funny and colonialist, while noting that the organization had received offers exceeding 1 billion euros from entities seeking to enter new teams. Panathinaikos owner Dimitris Giannakopoulos claimed that certain clubs opposed NBA expansion because they already received favorable treatment from Euroleague.
In the FIBA Europe Cup, PAOK earned a 75-72 victory over Bosna in Sarajevo to maintain a perfect record. Following the game, PAOK player Cedi Osman admitted that he was awful during the contest and described his performance as tragic. Elsewhere, Mykonos won its European debut 78-58 against Neftchi, while Peristeri defeated Bamberg 93-87.
Iraklis opened its FIBA Europe Cup campaign with a 64-59 victory against MZT in Skopje. The fixture was marked by controversy after local supporters displayed a banner depicting a map of Macedonia with borders extending into Halkidiki, prompting an official complaint from Iraklis KAE.
Water Polo and Olympic Hosting Bids
In men's water polo, Olympiacos began its Champions League season with a 17-10 away victory against Hannover. Meanwhile, the International Olympic Committee announced that seven countries have formally expressed interest in hosting the 2036 Olympic Games. In England, goalkeeper Jordan Pickford faced legal scrutiny following a high-speed police pursuit.
Global Security and Political Conflicts
United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrived in Athens and was received by Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis. The talks focused on finalizing an agreement for Greece to acquire F-35 fighter jets and inspecting six advanced weapon systems. Prior to the visit, the American Hellenic Institute sent a letter to Rubio urging the United States government to reject F-35 sales to Turkey while increasing support for Greece and Cyprus.
International security incidents continued across several regions. Explosions were reported in Kyiv following a ballistic missile alert. In Nigeria, gang violence resulted in at least 17 deaths, including 12 soldiers. Rising gang violence in Haiti led officials to postpone presidential and parliamentary elections indefinitely. In Libya, Aguila Saleh was removed from the presidency of the parliament after 12 years in office. In the West Bank, Israeli settlers shot at journalists, injuring an Agence France-Presse photojournalist. In the United States, a former CIA executive confessed to embezzling 194 million dollars after investigators discovered 300 gold bars inside his home. Donald Trump addressed questions regarding government funding, stating that a decision would be made on whether to return funds used for controversial advertisements.
Greek Legal Proceedings and Public Affairs
In Greek domestic affairs, LAOS party president Filippos Kampouris and his wife were arrested for allegedly operating a fraud scheme that damaged the EFKA social security fund by more than 1.5 million euros. Investigators reported that the operation issued fake invoices exceeding 5 million euros through restaurants, advertising firms, clothing stores, and the political party itself. Former party leader Giorgos Karatzaferis commented on the arrest, stating that liars and thieves rejoice only on their first day.
Greek authorities also targeted illegal online gambling, filing lawsuits against 18 influencers, including rappers and models. Minister Pierrakakis emphasized that popularity does not provide immunity from the law. In entertainment news, musician Nikos Karvelas expressed disappointment over his dispute with singer Anna Vissi, stating that she took a path he could not support. Defense lawyer Dimetrakopoulos responded that Karvelas was paid 300,000 euros before their concert and that no further financial claims exist. In Patra, a woman who completed 60 plasmapheresis treatments stated that she shuddered at rumors surrounding the medical procedure. Former Prime Minister Antonis Samaras recounted negotiating experiences during the debt crisis, detailing late-night talks and Grexit proposals.
In corporate news, the Petros Petropoulos Group completed a 21 million euro transaction to acquire full ownership of Ismailos. Television personality Eleni Menegaki was seen at the airport with Mateo Pantzopoulos, noting that she was taking another trip because she had the time.
