Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, ending a 21-year career with Argentina after the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 39-year-old said the decision was painful but that he felt the time had come to step aside and allow younger players to take their opportunity. He revealed that he had made the decision on July 21, two days after Argentina’s World Cup final defeat to Spain, and said the death of his father, Jorge Messi, on August 8 reinforced his resolve.
“I always gave it my all,” Messi said, adding that he leaves the national team with pride and peace of mind.
Messi made his Argentina debut in 2005 and became the country’s leading scorer, with 125 goals in 207 appearances. He represented Argentina at six World Cups and is the only player to win the World Cup Golden Ball twice, in 2014 and 2022.
His early years with Argentina were marked by disappointment, including defeats in the 2014 World Cup final and the 2015 and 2016 Copa América finals. He briefly retired from international football in 2016 before returning.
The turning point came in 2021, when Argentina won the Copa América, ending a 28-year wait for a major international title. Messi then led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar before helping the team retain the Copa América in 2024.
The 2022 World Cup was the defining achievement of Messi’s international career. He scored seven goals in seven matches and was named player of the tournament as Argentina defeated France in the final.
At the 2026 World Cup, Messi remained a central figure, scoring eight goals and providing four assists as Argentina reached the final before losing to Spain.
Messi said he will now support Argentina from outside the team, thanking his family, teammates, coaches and supporters for sharing his journey.
“Thank you, God, for making me Argentine,” he wrote.
(With inputs from agencies)