Lionel Messi has officially closed the Argentina chapter of his illustrious career, announcing his retirement from international football less than two months after leading the Albiceleste to the 2026 World Cup final.
The 39-year-old confirmed his decision Monday in an emotional message to supporters, ending more than two decades of representing Argentina at senior level.
Messi said the decision had been painful but that he had reached a point where continuing was no longer right for him.
“I love, have loved and will always love being part of the national team. I gave everything I had, and I don’t have anything more to give,” he wrote, while acknowledging the emergence of younger players deserving opportunities.
His announcement came after a World Cup campaign in which Argentina, the defending champions, reached the final before losing 1-0 to Spain after extra time. Messi scored eight goals during the tournament and finished his World Cup career with an extraordinary record across six editions.
Messi’s international numbers underline the scale of his contribution: 207 appearances and 125 goals, making him both Argentina’s most-capped player and all-time leading scorer.
The Argentina captain leaves with the major international honours that once appeared beyond his reach. He won the 2021 and 2024 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima and, most importantly, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He also won Olympic gold in 2008 and the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2005.
His relationship with the national team was not always straightforward. Messi briefly announced his international retirement after Argentina’s 2016 Copa América final defeat to Chile, only to return 66 days later. He subsequently led Argentina to its greatest period of success in the modern era.
The latest decision, however, appears definitive. Messi revealed that he had written his farewell message on July 21, two days after the World Cup final, but the death of his father in August strengthened his resolve to make the announcement public.
For Argentina, it is the end of an era. For Messi, it is the final page of an international story that began as a teenage prodigy and ended as the nation’s most decorated and statistically dominant footballer.