Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to a 21-year career with the Argentina national team. The 39-year-old forward, who captained Argentina to the World Cup final in July 2026, made the decision public on Monday via an Instagram post. Messi described the choice as painful but said he understands it is the right time to step away.
Messi’s international tenure was highlighted by many achievements, including leading Argentina to victory at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, scoring twice in the final against France, and securing two Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024. He is Argentina’s all-time top scorer with 125 goals in 207 appearances. Despite the team’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Messi remained a central figure, scoring eight goals during the tournament, including in the semi-final comeback against England.
In his announcement, Messi expressed gratitude to fans, teammates, coaches, and family. He said, “I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.” He also acknowledged the emergence of a new generation of players whom he believes deserve the opportunity to represent Argentina going forward.
The retirement comes amid a challenging period for Messi personally and professionally. Earlier in August, he mourned the death of his father, Jorge, and had previously voiced uncertainty about his future in football. Despite the heartbreaking loss in the 2026 final, Messi’s legacy as one of the sport’s all-time greats remains intact. His long and storied career also includes a complicated relationship with the national team early on, after which he became a unifying figure and national icon.
Following Argentina’s defeat in the recent final, several players faced disciplinary actions for altercations with Spain’s team members. Messi, however, was seen visibly emotional while accepting his runner-up medal. He described the pain of losing as “immense” and predicted it would take time to heal.
His teammate and fellow 2022 World Cup champion Angel Di Maria paid tribute to Messi for his contributions and his choice to represent Argentina despite opportunities elsewhere, stating, “We will be forever grateful to you for being Argentinian and for having taken Argentina to the top of the world.”
Currently contracted with Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami through the 2028 season, Messi did not indicate plans for his club career following his international retirement. He concluded his statement by thanking God for the privilege of being Argentine and affirmed his continued support for the national team from the sidelines.