Argentine superstar Lionel Messi announced that he is retiring from his country’s national team.

“After the time that has passed since the final, and after giving it a lot of thought, I want to let everyone know that I am retiring from the National Team,” Messi said in a statement on Instagram on Monday.

“It was a decision that hurt – and still hurts deep down – but I understand that the time has come. I swear to you that I always gave it my all – not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too; I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.”

Messi’s career with the national team includes one World Cup trophy in 2022, two runners-up medals in 2014 and 2026, two Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, and three runners-up medals in 2007, 2015 and 2016.

He won the Golden Ball as the top player in the 2014 and 2022 World Cups and the same award in the 2015 and 2021 Copa América tournaments.

His late-career success with the national team came after years of pressure from Argentina’s fans as La Albiceleste came close to winning titles but couldn’t quite get over the hump.

A former President of All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Architect Kabir Ibrahim Faskari, is dead.

Faskari who also served as president of Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN), died in Istanbul Turkey, following complications after undergoing prostate cancer surgery.

Until his death, Faskari was the Chairman of Agriculture Business Group.

According to family sources, the late AFAN president would be buried in Turkey.

Faskari was a prominent voice in Nigeria’s agricultural sector and played key roles in farmers’ organisations, particularly through his leadership of AFAN and PAN.

He was also known for his advocacy on issues affecting farmers, food production, poultry farming and agricultural business in Nigeria.

Oyo Nyimba Babamba Oguru Kulidi IV, a traditional Ugandan ruler named as the world’s youngest monarch has died aged 34, his prime minster announced.

He became king of Tooro in western Uganda at just three years old in 1995 after the death of his father.

The Tooro kingdom did not disclose the cause of King Oyo’s death, but a Ugandan government minister was quoted in local media saying that he had been critically ill and was seeking treatment in the US.

Though Uganda is governed by an elected president and parliament, it has several traditional kingdoms which continue to have significant cultural influence despite not having political power.

Oyo, who Guinness World Records listed as the world’s youngest reigning monarch, ruled over more than two million people. He was the 13th monarch of a kingdom that was founded in the early 19th Century.

Announcing his death, Tooro’s Prime Minister Calvin Armstrong Rwomiire Akiiki called his passing on Thursday an “immeasurable loss” to the royal family and the people of Tooro.

“I call upon all the people of Tooro to remain united, calm and prayerful during this profoundly difficult time,” Akiiki said on Friday. “May His Majesty the King rest in eternal peace.”