(Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP via Getty Images)
Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international soccer, bringing an end to a 20-year career with Argentina that included a World Cup triumph and multiple Copa América titles.
The 39-year-old confirmed Monday that he had played his final match for La Albiceleste. Messi ends his international career with 125 goals and 68 assists across 207 appearances after making his senior debut in 2005.
“I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you —together with my teammates — moments we’d only dreamed of,” Messi wrote on social media, in a translation from Spanish. “It was incredible to have lived through it all with you.”
Messi said he initially wrote his retirement announcement two days after Argentina lost to Spain in July’s World Cup final. Following a period that included mourning the death of his father, he became certain that it was time to step away.
“It was a decision that hurt — and still hurts — deep in the soul, but I understand that it’s time,” Messi wrote. “I swear to you that I always gave it my all — not just in recent years, but even before we won everything — and I always fought hard and gave everything I had for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you proud to be Argentine through soccer.”
Messi represented Argentina at six World Cups. He won the tournament in Qatar in 2022 and helped his country reach the finals in 2014 and 2026. During the latest tournament, he briefly became the World Cup’s record scorer with 21 goals before France forward Kylian Mbappé surpassed him with 22.
His eight goals at the 2026 World Cup were second only to Mbappé’s total, while he also provided four assists.
Messi’s international career was not always defined by success. Argentina lost the 2014 World Cup final and suffered repeated Copa América disappointments. After defeat in the 2016 Copa América final, Messi announced his retirement but reversed the decision weeks later.
His return eventually led to Argentina’s most successful period in decades. Messi helped the national team win the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 World Cup and another Copa América title in 2024, in an interview with Fox Sports.
“There’s not much time left, and chapters are coming to a close —and this is one that hurts me deeply. I love, have loved, and will always love being on the national team. I’ve given it my all; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some truly great young players coming up who deserve their spot,” he wrote.
Messi will continue his club career with Major League Soccer side Inter Miami. He said he would now support Argentina from the sidelines alongside the country’s fans.
