Argentine football legend Lionel Messi, striker for Inter Miami in the United States, has announced his retirement from international football after a long and illustrious career with his national team.
After all this time since the final (of the 2026 World Cup), and after much thought, I want to announce to you all my retirement from international football with the national team…" Messi wrote in a lengthy statement on his official social media accounts.
The 39-year-old veteran star continued: "It was a painful decision and it still hurts my heart, but I realize it's the right time. I swear to you that I have always given my all, not only during the last few years in which we won everything, but even before that... I have always fought and done everything I could for this shirt, to bring you joy and make you proud to be Argentinians through football."
Leo continued: "There isn't much left and the pages are closing one after another, and this particular page pains me greatly to close. I loved, I love, and I will always love being in the national team. I have given everything I have and I have nothing left to offer, in addition to the presence of promising young players coming from behind who deserve this opportunity."
He added, "Thank you for all this love over the past 20 years. I will miss hearing your cheers while I'm on the pitch. Now I will become one of you, always cheering and supporting from the outside (through thick and thin)."
Messi added, "Thank you to my family for always being by my side and accompanying me on this beautiful and difficult journey. Thank you to every coach, teammate, and official with whom I shared this journey. I cherish unforgettable memories and moments."
Messi concluded his message by noting, "I wrote these words on July 21, two days after the final. And today, after what happened to my father (his father passed away on August 8), I am more convinced of this decision than ever before."
Messi recently won the Copa America title twice with his national team in 2021 and 2024, in addition to the 2022 World Cup title, and lost the 2026 World Cup final to Spain by a score of 1-0 after extra time on July 19.
Prior to these achievements, Leo lost three consecutive finals with the Argentine national team in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, and the Copa America in 2015 and 2016, which prompted him to announce his international retirement at the time due to the intense pressure on him, before he reversed his decision and decided to continue his career with the Tango.
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