Messi Announces Retirement from Argentina National Team
On Monday, Lionel Messi officially announced his retirement from the Argentina national team through a heartfelt statement on his social media. This marks the end of a remarkable international career in football.
The 39-year-old star revealed that he had initially penned his farewell message on July 21, shortly after Argentina’s 1-0 loss to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. He noted that the recent passing of his father and longtime agent, Jorge Messi, played a significant role in his decision to step back from international play.
Messi shared that, while the decision causes him great sorrow, he feels at peace knowing he gave everything for the national team. He expressed confidence that a new generation of Argentinian players is ready to take on the responsibility of representing their country.
Leaving behind an impressive legacy, Messi is Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, with an astonishing 124 goals in 203 official matches. His two-decade journey with the national team is marked by resilience, characterized by years of near misses transformed into a period of remarkable triumphs.
He faced heart-wrenching defeats in the 2014 World Cup final and consecutive Copa América finals, which led to a brief retirement from international football in 2016. However, Messi returned to help guide Argentina through a legendary trophy haul.
His accolades include winning the Copa América in 2021, the Finalissima in 2022, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and a second Copa América title in 2024, culminating in a runner-up finish at the 2026 World Cup.
As he concludes his time with the national team, Messi will continue to play for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer (MLS). He remains under contract and actively competing there.
In his final remarks, Messi expressed heartfelt thanks to his family, coaches, teammates, and the millions of fans in Argentina who supported him throughout his career. He conveyed that even though he will miss representing his country on the pitch, he looks forward to cheering on Argentina from the stands as they face future challenges.
