Lionel Messi has officially retired from international football, bringing the curtain down on an extraordinary 21-year career with Argentina.
The 39-year-old leaves the national team as its record appearance maker and goalscorer, having scored 125 goals in 207 matches since making his senior debut in 2005.
Messi’s decision comes shortly after Argentina reached the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, where they lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star confirmed his retirement in a social media post on August 31, explaining that the decision had been painful but that he felt the time had come to step away.
“It was a decision that hurt – and still hurts deep down – but I understand that the time has come,” Messi wrote.
He said he had always given everything for the national team and wanted to leave knowing he had done all he could to make Argentines proud.
Messi also pointed to the emergence of a new generation of Argentine players as another reason for his decision.
“Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply. I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the national team,” he said.
“I’ve given everything I had; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming up who deserve to be here.”
The death of his father, Jorge Messi, also helped confirm his decision after a period in which the Argentina captain had been uncertain about his international future.
From heartbreak to glory
Messi’s international career was initially defined by disappointment.
He suffered defeat in the 2014 World Cup final and lost consecutive Copa América finals in 2015 and 2016. Following the 2016 Copa América final defeat to Chile, he briefly announced his retirement before returning to the national team.
His fortunes eventually changed.
Messi led Argentina to Copa América glory in 2021, won the 2022 Finalissima and then captained the country to World Cup victory in Qatar.
He added another Copa América title in 2024 before leading Argentina to another World Cup final in 2026.
Although Argentina fell short against Spain in the 2026 final, Messi leaves the national team having completed one of the most remarkable redemption stories in international football.
Once heavily criticised for failing to replicate his club success with Argentina, he eventually delivered the major trophies his country had long awaited.
The Argentine Football Association paid tribute to Messi following his announcement, thanking its captain for what it described as an unforgettable journey.
After more than two decades, Messi’s Argentina chapter is now officially over, bringing an end to one of the defining international careers in football history.
