Mourinho was asked about Messi during a press conference before Real Madrid's match against Real Betis in the fourth round of La Liga 2026-2027. The 39-year-old superstar had just announced his departure from Argentina after over two decades with the national team.

"Talking about Messi is complex. There isn't much left to say," Mourinho responded. "No words can describe his quality as a player. We will always remember players like him. In our generation, over the past two decades, everyone knows what Messi means."

Inter's Mourinho and Barca's Messi during the Champions League semi-final second leg at Camp Nou, 28/4/2010. Photo: AFP

Mourinho also added a touch of humor when mentioning Messi's final years at Inter Miami, where he will only play at the club level. "We will have to watch a few MLS games," he added. "I don't like it much, but we have to watch to enjoy his final years."

Messi decided to conclude his 21-year journey with Argentina. He is the most capped player and top scorer in the team's history, with 207 appearances and 125 goals.

The forward, born in 1987, also boasts an impressive collection of titles with the national team. Most notably, he won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and two Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024.

Messi also participated in the 2026 World Cup, his sixth tournament. Argentina reached the final but lost to Spain, failing to defend their world title.

"Messi came to this World Cup at 38 or 39 years old and still showed what we have seen," Mourinho continued. "There are players we will always remember. And he is one of them."

The relationship between Mourinho and Messi spans over two decades. The Portuguese coach was on the opposing side when Messi debuted for Barcelona's first team, as his Porto side won 2-0 in a 2003 friendly match.

After that, the two faced each other many times when Mourinho managed Real and Messi played for Barca. In total, Mourinho and Messi met in 26 matches. Mourinho's teams won eight, Messi's teams won nine, and there were nine draws.

Messi scored 13 goals in his encounters with Mourinho, all in 17 matches between Barca and Real.

A notable memory is Barca's 5-0 victory over Real at Camp Nou in the 2010-2011 season. At that time, Mourinho had just moved to Real Madrid and began his famous rivalry with Pep Guardiola's Barca and Messi.

Despite spending many years trying to stop Messi, Mourinho still holds special respect for the Argentine forward as he prepares to conclude his international career.

Messi's departure from the national team does not mean he is immediately retiring completely. He still has a contract and will continue to play for Inter Miami in MLS until the end of 2028. Therefore, Mourinho believes fans still have the opportunity to enjoy his final performances.

Hoang An (according to AS)