Messi to Aguero: “It hurts a lot” & “I love you so much my friend”

City players past and present such as Kevin De Bruyne, Riyad Mahrez and David Silva all expressed similar sentiments, while rival club Real Madrid were also among those congratulating the forward on his hugely successful career.

Messi, meanwhile, posted a photo on Instagram with the caption: “Practically a whole career together, Kun ... We lived very beautiful moments and others that were not so, all of them made us unite more and more and be more friends. And we are going to continue living them together outside the field.

“With the great joy of lifting the America’s Cup so little ago, with all the achievements you achieved in England… And the truth is that now it hurts a lot to see how you have to stop doing what you like the most because of what happened to you.

“Surely you will continue to be happy because you are a person who transmits happiness and those of us who love you will be with you. Now a new stage of your life is starting and I am convinced that you are going to live it with a smile and with all the illusion that you put into everything. All the best in this new stage !!! I love you very much friend, I am going to miss a lot being with you on the field and when we get together with the National Team !!”

Messi and Aguero have won 2008 Olympic champion and America's Cup 2021together.