Messi Retirement: Messi Announces Argentina Retirement, Ending Historic International Career
Instagram photo: Collected
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from Argentina’s national team, ending a 21-year international career in which he became the country’s all-time leading scorer and helped lead it to some of its greatest achievements.
The 39-year-old Argentine star announced his decision in a post on Facebook, saying he had spent considerable time thinking about his future after the World Cup final.
“After so much time has passed since the final, and after thinking about it carefully, I want to let you all know that I am retiring from the national team,” Messi wrote.
Messi said he had first written down his thoughts about retirement on July 21, two days after the World Cup final. He said the death of his father on Aug. 8 made him even more certain that it was the right decision.
“I wrote these words on July 21, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my father, I am even more certain,” he wrote.
Messi made his Argentina debut in 2005 and went on to spend more than two decades with the national team. After years of frustration and criticism over Argentina’s inability to win a major title during much of his international career, Messi helped usher in a historic period of success beginning in 2021.
Argentina won two Copa America titles, the Finalissima and the World Cup between 2021 and 2024.
Messi had previously announced his retirement from international football after Argentina lost the 2016 Copa America final. He later reversed that decision and returned to the team, eventually winning the major international trophies that had long eluded him.
At the most recent World Cup, Messi led Argentina to the final and set the tournament’s all-time scoring record, according to the account in his post. Argentina, however, lost the final 1-0 to Spain.
Messi described his decision to retire as painful but necessary.
“This is a decision that has hurt my soul and still hurts,” he wrote. “But I understand that this is the right time. I swear to you that I have always given everything I had — not only in the years when we won everything, but before that as well.”
Messi finished his Argentina career with 207 appearances and 125 goals, making him the country’s all-time leading scorer. Only Cristiano Ronaldo has played more international matches and scored more international goals, according to the figures cited in the announcement.
Messi said he believed he had nothing left to give and that it was time to make room for younger players.
“I have given myself completely. I have nothing more left to give,” he wrote. “Besides, there are many great young players coming through who deserve to be there.”
He thanked Argentina’s supporters for their love over the past two decades and said he would miss hearing them inside stadiums.
“Thank you for all the love over the last 20 years,” Messi wrote. “I will miss hearing your cheers and support on the field. From now on, I will be one of you, supporting the team from the outside and standing by it — in good times, and even more in difficult times.”
Messi also thanked his family, teammates, coaches and officials who were part of his international career.
He said he was leaving with pride and peace after helping deliver moments that supporters had dreamed of experiencing.
“I leave with the peace and pride of having given you some dreamlike moments alongside my teammates,” Messi wrote.
He ended his message with a final tribute to his country.
“Thank God for making me Argentine. Vamos, Argentina!”
