Following Sergio Agüero’s emotional news conference where the Argentine announced his retirement from football, Lionel Messi penned a heartfelt tribute to his close friend and former Argentina team-mate.
Written on Messi’s Instagram account, it read: “Practically a whole career together, Kun… We lived very beautiful moments and others that were not so [beautiful], all of them made us unite more and more and made us greater friends. And we are going to continue living [beautiful moments] together off the pitch.
“With the great joy of lifting the Copa America so recently, with all the achievements you achieved in England… the truth is that now it hurts a lot to see how you have to stop doing what you love the most because of what happened to you.
“Surely you will continue to be happy because you are a person who transmits happiness, and those of us who love you will be with you.
“Now a new stage of your life begins and I am convinced you are going to live it with a smile and with all the enthusiasm that you put into everything.
“All the best in this new stage!!! I love you a lot, my friend. I’m going to miss being with you on the pitch with the National Team a lot!”
