Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to a 21-year career with Argentina that included a World Cup triumph, two Copa América titles and more than 200 international appearances.
The 39-year-old made the announcement on Monday through a handwritten message posted on Instagram. Messi said he had written the message on July 21, two days after Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in extra time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
His decision means the 2026 World Cup final was his final appearance for the Argentina national team.
Messi ended his international career as Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, with 125 goals in 207 appearances. He also became the first Argentine to lead the country to a World Cup title since 1986 when he lifted the trophy in Qatar in 2022.
Messi: ‘This hurts me a lot’
Explaining his decision, Messi said he had spent considerable time thinking about his future before deciding to leave the national team.
“It was a decision that hurt — and still hurts deeply — but I understand that the time has come,” Messi said in his farewell message.
He also stressed that he had always given his best while wearing Argentina’s shirt.
Messi wrote that he had “always gave everything,” both during Argentina’s successful period and before the team began winning major international trophies.
He added that he had reached the point where he had nothing more to give and believed younger players deserved opportunities with the national team.
“There’s not long left and chapters are coming to an end – and this is one that hurts me a lot. I love, have loved and I will always love being part of the national team. I have emptied myself: now I have nothing more to give and, besides, there are great young players coming through who deserve to be [selected],” Messi said.
From international heartbreak to glory
Messi’s Argentina career began in 2005 and initially became defined by disappointment.
He lost four major finals with Argentina, including the 2014 World Cup final against Germany and three Copa América finals. He briefly announced his international retirement in 2016 after Argentina lost the Copa América final to Chile, but later reversed the decision.
His fortunes changed in 2021 when Argentina defeated Brazil to win the Copa América.
A year later, Messi finally achieved his biggest international ambition by leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar. He scored twice in the final against France as Argentina won on penalties after a 3-3 draw.
Argentina then won another Copa América title in 2024, further cementing Messi’s status as one of the country’s greatest footballers.
2026 World Cup became his final chapter
Messi returned for what became his sixth World Cup in 2026 and helped Argentina reach the final again.
However, Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time, denying Messi the opportunity to finish his international career with another World Cup title.
Messi’s decision also followed the death of his father and longtime representative, Jorge Messi, in August. The Argentina captain had previously expressed doubts about continuing his playing career after his father’s death.
According to FIFA, Messi had already written his retirement message shortly after the World Cup final but waited before making it public. His father’s death later strengthened his conviction that the time had come to leave international football.
Messi is not retiring from football yet
Despite headlines describing his retirement, Messi has not announced his retirement from professional football altogether.
His decision applies to the Argentina national team. He remains under contract with Inter Miami, with his current deal running through the end of the 2028 MLS season.
That means Messi could continue playing club football even though he will no longer represent Argentina.
After more than two decades, Messi leaves the national team as an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, World Cup champion and one of the most decorated players in football history.
His international career ends not with another trophy, but with the legacy of a player who transformed years of disappointment into an extraordinary period of success for Argentina.
