Lionel Messi has confirmed his retirement from international football, bringing an end to a 21-year career with Argentina that included a World Cup triumph, two Copa America titles and a long list of individual records.
The 39-year-old leaves the national team as Argentina’s most-capped player and leading goalscorer, having scored 125 times in 207 appearances.
Messi had been weighing his future for several weeks and ultimately decided that the time was right to step away. His decision was made before the recent death of his father, Jorge, but the family loss strengthened his belief that retirement was the right choice.
The Inter Miami forward said he had given everything he could to Argentina and wanted the next generation of players to have the opportunity to establish themselves.
Retirement decision followed World Cup final defeat
Messi revealed that he prepared his retirement announcement on 21 July, two days after Argentina were beaten by Spain in the World Cup final.
He had scored eight goals and provided four assists during the tournament, continuing his remarkable record on football’s biggest international stage.
Those performances took Messi to 21 career World Cup goals, leaving him one behind France striker Kylian Mbappe. His 12 World Cup assists also represent one of the strongest creative records in the competition’s history, with 10 of them coming during knockout matches.
Earlier in August, Messi had publicly acknowledged that he was considering his future after his father died aged 68 following a long illness.
Although he has now closed the international chapter of his career, Messi will continue playing at club level. His contract with MLS side Inter Miami runs until the end of the 2028 season.
From difficult debut to Argentina icon
Messi’s Argentina career began in August 2005 in a friendly against Hungary. He entered the match as a substitute but was sent off less than a minute later after an incident involving defender Vilmos Vanczak.
That difficult debut gave little indication of what would follow.
Messi developed into the defining player of his generation for Argentina, eventually leading the country to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar. He also helped Argentina win successive Copa America trophies, ending years of frustration at major international tournaments.
His journey was not without setbacks. Messi previously announced his international retirement in 2016 after Argentina lost the Copa America final to Chile on penalties. He later reversed that decision and returned to the national team.
That comeback eventually produced the greatest successes of his international career.
Messi finishes second on the list of all-time international goalscorers, behind Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 146. He also retires as Argentina’s record appearance holder by a significant margin.
After more than two decades representing his country, Messi said he leaves proud of what Argentina achieved during his time with the team and grateful for the support he received from fans.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will now follow the national team from outside the squad, ending one of the most decorated international careers in football history.