After two decades in the blue and white, Lionel Messi has decided to turn the final page on his Argentina story. The Argentine superstar has retired from international football, confirming that he will no longer wear the shirt that has come to define so much of his career.
Messi revealed his decision on Instagram on Monday, saying he had made the call just two days after Argentina’s World Cup final defeat to Spain. He also revealed that the death of his father played a part in a decision that brings an extraordinary chapter of his career to a close. Messi’s father passed away earlier in the month and the Argentine star hinted that he was considering stepping away from the game after that.
Messi said that it wasn’t an easy call for him to step aside from playing for Argentina and it does hurt him a lot to make the decision.
Messi said that while he has always enjoyed playing for Argentina, he had nothing more left to give and it was time for him to step aside for the younger generation of talent coming through. The 39-year-old said he is leaving the team in peace and actually wrote the retirement note on July 21. Messi continues to play club football with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
MESSI’S INTERNATIONAL RETIREMENT: FULL STATEMENT
“After all this time since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to let everyone know that I am retiring from the national team.”
“It was a decision that hurt, and still hurts deeply, but I understand that this is the right time. I swear I always gave everything — not just during the last few years when we won everything, but before that too. I always fought and gave my all for this shirt, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.”
“There is little time left and chapters are beginning to close, and this is one that hurts me a lot. I love, have loved and will always love being part of the national team. I gave everything I had; I have nothing more left to give. Besides, there are some great young players coming through who deserve their opportunity.”
“Thank you for all the love and support over these 20 years. I will miss hearing you from inside the stadium very much. Now I will be one of you, always supporting and cheering from the outside — in good times and bad, even more so in the bad times.”
“Thank you to my family for always being there, for accompanying me on this beautiful but difficult journey. Thank you to every coach, teammate and official I had the chance to share this journey with. I am taking with me unforgettable memories and moments.”
“I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you, together with my teammates, moments we could only have dreamed of. It was crazy to experience it all with you. I love you!”
“Thank you, God, for making me Argentine.”
“Let’s go, Argentina!”
“I wrote these words on July 21, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my father, I am even more convinced than before,” read the statement from Messi on Instagram.
MESSI’S INTERNATIONAL CAREER WITH ARGENTINA
With 125 goals in 207 appearances, Lionel Messi has established himself as Argentina’s most prolific scorer and the player with the most caps in the country’s history.
Messi’s journey with the national team began in 2005, when he made his senior debut at just 18. He was included in Argentina’s squad for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, marking the beginning of what would become one of the most remarkable international careers in football.
He made an immediate impact at the tournament, becoming Argentina’s youngest-ever World Cup player and youngest goalscorer at the time. Messi found the net in his first World Cup appearance against Serbia and Montenegro.
However, success with Argentina did not come easily in the early stages of his career. The 2010 World Cup ended in disappointment when Argentina were eliminated in the quarter-finals, while four years later Messi came within touching distance of the biggest prize.
Argentina reached the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil but were beaten by Germany, leaving Messi without a major international trophy. His frustration deepened two years later when Argentina again suffered heartbreak against Chile in the Copa America final.
Following that defeat, Messi announced his retirement from international football in 2016, only to reconsider and return to the national team.
The wait for silverware finally ended in 2021. Messi inspired Argentina to Copa America success, beating Brazil in the final at the Maracana to claim his first major senior international trophy.
He was instrumental throughout the campaign, either scoring or setting up nine of Argentina’s 12 goals, and was subsequently named the tournament’s best player.
But the defining chapter of Messi’s international career arrived in 2022.
At the World Cup in Qatar, the Argentine captain produced a series of outstanding performances to lead his country to their first world title since 1986. Messi scored twice in the final against France as the match ended 3-3 after extra time before Argentina prevailed in the penalty shootout.
The triumph completed the one major achievement that had eluded him and strengthened the case for Messi as the greatest footballer of all time.
He finished the tournament with seven goals and three assists and was awarded the Golden Ball as the World Cup’s best player, adding another landmark achievement to an already extraordinary international career.
WHEN MESSI PERFORMED A RETIREMENT U-TURN
Messi had previously walked away from international football in 2016 after Argentina suffered defeat in three successive finals under his captaincy. However, his retirement proved short-lived, with the Argentina icon soon returning to the national team and eventually guiding his country to World Cup glory.
LIONEL MESSI’S WORLD CUP RECORD
- Tournaments: Six (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026)
- Appearances: 34
- Minutes: 3,054
- Goals: 21
- Assists: 12
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