Lionel Messi has called time on his Argentina career, ending one of the most extraordinary international journeys in football history after more than two decades
Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to his remarkable Argentina career after the heartbreak of falling short in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
Messi had hoped to lead Argentina to consecutive World Cup titles after their triumph in 2022. However, Spain ended those hopes with a 1-0 victory in extra time in July, denying Argentina another championship.
The 39-year-old leaves international football as Argentina’s most prolific player, having made 207 appearances and scored 125 goals for his country. His international career spanned more than 20 years and included three World Cup final appearances, two Copa America triumphs and the ultimate prize in 2022.
Messi revealed that he had made the decision to retire just two days after Argentina’s defeat to Spain. However, he kept the decision private for several weeks as his family dealt with the illness of his father, Jorge Messi, who died in August aged 68 after a prolonged illness.
Following his return to football with Inter Miami, Messi finally announced his decision publicly.
“After the time that has passed since the final, and after giving it a lot of thought, I want to let everyone know that I am retiring from the national team,” Messi wrote in an Instagram post.
He acknowledged that the decision was painful but said he had come to accept that the time had arrived to close the chapter.
“It was a decision that hurt, and still hurts deep down, but I understand that the time has come,” Messi said.
Messi’s Argentina journey was marked by both extraordinary success and years of disappointment.
He endured defeats in the 2014 World Cup final and the 2015 and 2016 Copa America finals before finally breaking the jinx with Argentina’s Copa America victory in 2021. A year later, he produced arguably the defining chapter of his international career by captaining Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar.
Messi was named the tournament’s best player in 2022 after scoring seven goals, including twice in the final against France. He had previously won the Golden Ball at the 2014 World Cup, despite Argentina losing the final to Germany.
His World Cup record places him among the greatest players in the competition’s history. Messi finished his career as the second-highest scorer in World Cup history, behind Kylian Mbappe, after both players surpassed Germany legend Miroslav Klose’s previous tally during the 2026 tournament.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will not, however, be walking away from football altogether.
Messi is expected to continue playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, where he has continued his club career after leaving European football.
For Argentina, though, an era has come to an end. From the frustrations of his early years to finally lifting the World Cup trophy, Messi leaves behind a legacy that is difficult to replicate, and an international career that will be remembered as one of the greatest ever witnessed in football.
