Lionel Messi has officially retired from international football, bringing the curtain down on one of the greatest careers in the history of the game.
Messi said the decision was painful but felt the time had come to step away from the national team.
He wrote that he had always given everything for Argentina and wanted to leave with peace and pride, while also acknowledging that a new generation of players was ready to take over.
Messi’s international journey began in 2005 and lasted more than two decades. He finishes as Argentina’s most-capped player and all-time leading scorer, with 125 goals in 207 appearances.
His greatest international achievement came in 2022, when he led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar. He also won the Copa America in 2021 and 2024, besides guiding Argentina to another World Cup final in 2026.
Messi said he had originally written his retirement message shortly after the World Cup final, but delayed making it public following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, in August.
In his farewell message, Messi thanked Argentina’s fans, his family, teammates, coaches and officials who supported him throughout his journey.
He also made it clear that while he is stepping away from international football, his love for Argentina will remain unchanged and he will continue supporting the team from outside.
Messi’s retirement ends an era that saw him experience heartbreak, criticism and repeated near-misses before finally achieving the one trophy that had long eluded him — the World Cup.
His international career may be over, but his club career will continue with Inter Miami, where he remains under contract through the 2028 MLS season.
From a teenage prodigy to a World Cup-winning captain, Messi leaves international football as one of the most decorated and influential players the sport has ever seen.
For Argentina, it is not just the retirement of a player.
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