Image: Argentina National Team

Tributes have continued to pour in for Lionel Messi following his international retirement.  

Among others, football governing body president Gianni Infantino said Messi had inspired millions of people and redefined the sport. 

Meanwhile, David Beckham - the co-owner of Messi’s club Inter Miami - praised the player’s impact both on and off the pitch.  

Tributes also came in from Jose Mourinho, former Argentine teammates like Angel di Maria, Enzo Fernandez and Emiliano Martinez, and even Argentine F1 driver Franco Colapinto.

Messi has scored 125 goals in 207 appearances for Argentina, making him his country’s all-time leading goal scorer and their most capped player.

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Arsenal have maintained their perfect start to the Premier League season, with a 1-0 victory away to Aston Villa.

Bukayo Saka scored the only goal of the game, shortly after VAR had denied him an earlier penalty.

The Gunners now join Chelsea, Hull and leaders Man City as the only teams with two wins from two matches so far.

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Over in La Liga…

Raphinha and Lamine Yamal both scored twice as Barcelona hammered Rayo Vallecano 5-2 to make it three wins from three league games.

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And…

Defending men’s and women’s champions Carlos Alcaraz and Aryna Sabalenka are both safely through to the second round of the US tennis Open.