 Following the announcement, a campaign began in Argentina by the fans and many big names in football and society for Messi to change his mind about retiring. He was greeted by fans with signs reading "Don 't go, Leo" when the team landed in Buenos Aires. Argentina's President Mauricio Macri urged Messi not to quit, stating: "We are lucky, it is one of life's pleasures, it is a gift from God to have the best player in the world in a footballing country like ours ... Lionel Messi is the greatest thing we have in Argentina and we must take care of him." The Buenos Aires mayor Horacio Rodríguez Larreta unveiled a statue of Messi in the capital to convince him reconsider retirement. On social networks, NoTeVayasLeo became a global trending topic, and even a playlist on Spotify. The campaign also continued in the streets and avenues of the Argentine capital, with about 50,000 supporters going to the Obelisco de Buenos Aires on 2 July, using the same slogan.
