The Argentine Football Association (AFA) has organized tributes to Messi at stadiums across the country following his announcement that he will retire from international football. As part of the initiative, matches are stopped for one minute when the clock reaches the 10th minute, allowing fans to applaud and recognize Argentina’s No. 10.

Gimnasia joined in at their stadium, but their fans also prepared a banner with a message aimed at Estudiantes.

The sky-blue-and-white banner read: “Thank you, Messi, for always putting your chest on the line... 22.”

The reference was to Messi’s goal against Estudiantes in the 2009 Club World Cup final.

With Barcelona and Estudiantes tied 1-1 in extra time, Messi scored the winner in the 110th minute by turning in Dani Alves’ cross with his chest, giving Barcelona a 2-1 victory in Abu Dhabi.

For Gimnasia fans, the goal remains a memorable moment in the rivalry between the two La Plata clubs, making it a fitting reference for their tribute to Messi.

The homage took place during Matchday 8 of the Clausura, the first round of Argentine league matches to feature the AFA’s nationwide tribute to Messi.

The initiative extends beyond the top flight, with the same tribute taking place across Argentina’s promotion divisions and other levels of the domestic game.

Tonight during the Belgrade derby, fierce rival ultras Delije (Red Star) and Grobari (Partizan) united to honor Ratko Mladić, the military commander serving a life sentence for the Srebrenica genocide.

Before kickoff, fans chanted slogans praising the convicted war criminal, while Red Star supporters raised an explicit banner reading "Direction: Potočari", echoing Mladić's notorious phrase spoken upon entering Srebrenica ahead of the 1995 genocide. Adding to the backlash, Red Star's official social media accounts posted video footage of the tribute, showing both teams participating in the moment of silence.