The Crying Messi meme captures a deeply emotional moment from August 2021, when football legend Lionel Messi held a farewell press conference after announcing his departure from FC Barcelona. After 21 years at the club, the footage of him breaking down in tears before even speaking became an instant viral sensation. While initially a symbol of genuine sports tragedy and the end of an era, the internet quickly adapted the template to represent extreme sadness, ironic disappointment, or any situation involving heartfelt goodbyes. It remains one of the most recognizable 'sad' templates in meme culture, used to express loss in everything from relationship breakups to the cancellation of favorite TV shows.