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The story
Argentina’s Lionel Messi (39) bid farewell to the international stage on November 5 (November 6 Japan time), scoring one goal and providing two assists in his final match for the national team against Benin. Pundit Sergio Echigo (81) praised the performance as “Wonderful, on a different level, a perfect way to bow out,” while also voicing concern: “No next superstar is coming up.” On 5ch, discussion spread to evaluations of next-generation candidates like Yamal, Mbappé, and Haaland, the reality of crowd turnout when Messi played in Japan, and differing opinions on Echigo’s own argument.
Our paper’s pundit, Sergio Echigo (81), will hold a talk event titled “The Unmissable Showdown” on November 5 at EX Theater Roppongi in Tokyo.
He’ll engage in heated debate alongside Yasutaro Matsuki (68), his longtime broadcasting partner on TV Asahi’s soccer coverage, and former Japan national team manager Philippe Troussier (71), among others. Echigo spoke to us ahead of the event about forward Lionel Messi (39, Inter Miami), who retired from the Argentina national team on the 5th (6th Japan time), discussing the question of who the next “superstar” will be and Japan’s soccer culture.
For Brazilian-born Echigo, Messi was a star player from a rival nation — but one who transcended that rivalry. “Wonderful, isn’t it. On a different level. A perfect way to bow out,” he said in praise. Starting in the farewell match against Benin, Messi scored a goal and set up two more, proving he’s still got it as he said goodbye.
Source: nikkansports.com / Original article here
What people said
After Messi and Ronaldo it's… Haaland?
Way too bland
Star shortage is no joke
Same story in Japan — Honda retired and now it's just Mitoma and Kubo
Soccer's got a serious star shortage, both in Japan and worldwide
Just need a good-looking guy like Beckham to show up, that's all it takes
Honestly, with the squad Japan has now, Honda wouldn't even make the national team
Not sure Yamal's it either
I used to think he was just a loudmouth, but now I actually hope he stays healthy and keeps being his contrarian self forever
>Spain's Nico Williams matched top football stars to [Jujutsu Kaisen] characters
>
>Players like Dani Olmo, Gavi, and Pedri reportedly watch Japanese anime on team flights,
>and Nico Williams mentioned that Cristiano Ronaldo watches the series too.
>Hanami — Marc Pubill
>Satoru Gojo — Lamine Yamal
>Megumi Fushiguro — Pedri
>Mahito — Thibaut Courtois
>Yuji Itadori — Luis de la Fuente
>Toge Inumaki — Nico Williams
>Choso — Cristiano Ronaldo
>[character name unclear in source] — Lionel Messi
>Sukuna — Kylian Mbappé
>Geto (impostor) — Erling Haaland
Wait, Ronaldo watches anime too? lol
Guess everyone figures that era was the peak
Why doesn't anyone in Japan care about Messi? It's honestly frustrating
Japanese fans care more about brand names than individual players — matchups between globally famous clubs sell out
But bring in Messi's American club or Ronaldo's Saudi club, and the response is lukewarm
The organizers misjudged that one, and people here don't have deep enough pockets to jump on just anything
Is old man Sergio even gonna make it to the next World Cup?
Tell me exactly which match and how many people showed up
The friendly against the Japan national team was totally packed
the only time all these great Argentine players of Messi's generation played in a World Cup together was 2016
though they went down swinging against France in the Round of 16
That was 2018, though
Wasn't it 2014 — the one where they reached the final — that had more players close to Messi's generation?
Meant 2018, my bad…
Roughly speaking:
Pelé → Maradona → Messi
The next one will turn up eventually
Old man Sergio's just in a hurry because he doesn't have much time left — let's take the long view lol
But even Messi's games were half-empty when he came to Japan
Background and key points of this story
What Messi stepped away from was the “Argentina national team” — the international stage — not his club career; he’s still playing for Inter Miami. The article glosses over this distinction in a single line, so it’s easy to miss, and some comments in the thread do assume “Messi is still playing in America,” so it helps to keep straight exactly what this retirement covers. Sergio Echigo is a pundit long known for his blunt, critical takes on Japanese soccer, and the thread split between readers who felt he was “just saying the same old thing again” and those who agreed that “a player on Messi’s level really doesn’t come along easily.” Another point of discussion was the observation that even a player of Messi’s stature didn’t draw strong crowds when his team visited Japan — read by some as reflecting a Japanese fan culture that turns out for big club brand names more than individual star power. Yamal and Shiogai were both floated as next-generation candidates, though it’s worth noting both are still young enough that their standing isn’t fully settled yet.
*This article is an excerpt and summary based on the 5ch (Geisoku+) thread “[Soccer] Pundit Sergio Echigo praises Messi’s retirement as “a perfect way to bow out” but warns “no next superstar is coming”“.
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