Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to an extraordinary chapter with Argentina. The 39-year-old Argentina captain confirmed his decision on Monday in an emotional message shared on social media.
Messi revealed that he had made the decision shortly after Argentina’s 2026 World Cup final defeat to Spain. In a handwritten note posted on Instagram, the legendary forward said the decision was painful but felt that the time had come to step away from the national team.
“I have nothing left to give, and there are some great young players coming up who deserve to be here,” Messi wrote.
Messi confirms Argentina retirement
Messi’s international career has lasted more than two decades and includes some of the biggest achievements in Argentina’s football history.
The forward represented Argentina at six FIFA World Cups, winning the tournament in 2022 in Qatar. He also guided his country to the 2026 World Cup final, where Argentina were beaten by Spain.
In his retirement message, Messi thanked his family, teammates, coaches and supporters who had been part of his journey with the national team.
He also reflected on the emotional connection he has always had with Argentina.
“I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the national team,” Messi said in his message.
Lionel Messi’s Argentina career by the numbers
Messi leaves the Argentina national team as the country’s most-capped player and leading scorer.
- 207 international appearances
- 125 goals for Argentina
- 6 World Cup appearances
- 1 FIFA World Cup title
- 2 Copa América titles
- 2021 Copa América winner
- 2024 Copa América winner
His 125 international goals also make him the highest-scoring player in South American international football.
A career that changed Argentina’s history
For years, Messi’s international career was defined by near misses. Argentina reached three consecutive major finals between 2014 and 2016 but failed to lift a trophy.
That changed in 2021 when Messi finally won his first major international title with Argentina at the Copa América.
The success marked the beginning of a remarkable period for the national team. Argentina went on to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with Messi playing a central role in the campaign.
He later added another Copa América title in 2024.
The 2022 World Cup victory was particularly significant for Argentina, ending a 36-year wait for the country’s third World Cup trophy.
Messi’s emotional message after retirement
Messi’s announcement also came after the death of his father, Jorge Messi, who died on August 8 at the age of 68.
In a note added to his original message, Messi said the loss had strengthened his decision to retire from international football.
He thanked Argentine supporters for their love throughout his career and said he would now support the national team from outside the pitch.
“Now I’ll be just one of you, cheering and supporting from the outside,” Messi wrote.
Messi had retired from international football before
This is not the first time Messi has announced his retirement from Argentina.
In 2016, following Argentina’s Copa América Centenario final defeat to Chile, Messi announced that he was stepping away from international football. He had lost three consecutive finals with Argentina at the time.
However, he later reversed that decision and returned to lead Argentina toward its most successful period in decades.
This time, Messi’s decision comes after he has already achieved the major international honours that once eluded him.
The end of an Argentina era
Messi’s retirement marks the end of one of the most remarkable international careers in football history.
From the disappointment of losing major finals to finally lifting the Copa América and World Cup trophies, his journey with Argentina has gone through almost every possible emotion.
With 207 appearances and 125 goals, Messi leaves the national team as an all-time great and one of the defining figures in Argentine football.
For Argentina supporters, the next chapter will be about building a new generation of stars. But Messi’s legacy with the national team is already secure.
