Lionel Messi has officially called time on his international career, announcing his retirement from the Argentina national team after more than two decades of representing the country.
The 39-year-old made the announcement on Monday in an emotional statement, bringing an end to one of the most decorated international careers in football history.
Messi’s final appearance for Argentina came in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, where the defending champions suffered a 1-0 defeat to Spain. The result denied Messi the opportunity to end his international career with another World Cup triumph.
Despite the disappointment, Messi leaves the national team with a legacy few footballers can match.
He made 207 appearances and scored 125 goals for Argentina, making him the nation’s most-capped player and leading goalscorer. His greatest achievement came in 2022 when he captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar, completing a long-awaited chapter in his career.
His international trophy cabinet also includes two Copa América titles, won in 2021 and 2024, as well as the 2022 Finalissima and an Olympic gold medal from 2008.
“It hurts, but the time has come”
Messi’s decision comes after a period of uncertainty surrounding his future.
Following Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, the legendary forward was visibly emotional, prompting widespread speculation that the match could be his final appearance for the national team.
He subsequently confirmed the decision, explaining that stepping away was painful but that he believed the time had come to allow a new generation of Argentine players to take centre stage.
Messi also reflected on the sacrifices he had made throughout his international career and his desire to always give everything for the Argentina shirt.
From heartbreak to immortality
Messi’s relationship with Argentina was not always a fairytale.
Before eventually lifting the World Cup, he endured several painful defeats in major finals and even briefly retired from international football in 2016 following Argentina’s Copa América final defeat to Chile.
He later returned and went on to lead Argentina through one of the most successful periods in the country’s football history.
The 2021 Copa América triumph ended a long wait for his first major senior international trophy, before the 2022 World Cup victory cemented his status as an Argentine sporting icon.
His final World Cup campaign in 2026 ultimately ended in disappointment, but his contribution to the national team remains historic.
International retirement, not football retirement
While Messi has retired from international football, he has not announced his retirement from professional football altogether.
The Argentine remains with Inter Miami, where he continues his club career.His current contract with the MLS side runs through 2028.
For Argentina, however, the era of Messi wearing the famous No. 10 shirt has come to an end.
After 21 years, seven major international finals, a World Cup triumph and more than 200 appearances, one of football’s greatest international stories has reached its final chapter.
