Argentine superstar Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 39.
The Inter Miami captain announced his retirement via a statement on Monday, saying he has reached the point where he believes it is time to end his Argentina career.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, who won the World Cup in 2022, said he had made up his mind after reflecting deeply following the final.
The football icon, who represented Argentina for two decades, said he had always given everything for the national team and was proud of helping deliver historic success to his country.
Messi stated: “After all this time since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to tell everyone that I’m retiring from the national team.
“It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep inside, but I understand that this is the right moment.
“I swear I always gave everything, not only in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too. I always fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you happiness and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.”
Messi said his departure was particularly painful because he still deeply loves representing Argentina, but acknowledged that a new generation of players deserves an opportunity.
“There isn’t much time left, and different chapters are coming to an end. This is one that hurts me a lot. I love, I loved, and I will always love being part of the national team. I gave everything I had, and I don’t have anything more to give,” the former Barcelona captain added.
He thanked Argentine fans for their support throughout his 20 years with the national team, saying he would now support the team from outside the pitch.
“Now I’ll be one of you, always supporting from the outside, in the good times and even more in the bad ones,” Messi said.
Messi also expressed gratitude to his family, coaches, teammates and officials who shared his international career.
Messi scores first goal since father’s death
He said he leaves with “peace and pride” after achieving moments with Argentina that he and his teammates had once only dreamed of.
The Inter Miami star also revealed that he initially wrote the retirement statement on July 21, two days after the final, but said events involving his father had since strengthened his conviction about the decision.
Messi said: “I leave with peace and pride, knowing that together with my teammates we gave you moments we once dreamed of. It was crazy to experience all of this with you. I love you!
“Thank you God for making me Argentine.
“Vamos Argentina!
“I wrote these words on July 21, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my dad, I’m even more convinced of this decision than before.”
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner showed his enduring quality as he captained Argentina to the final of the World Cup this summer, leaving a record-breaking legacy of 125 goals from 207 games.
No Argentine has played or scored more for the country.
Messi, who played in six World Cups, won the tournament in Qatar 2022 and led Argentina to the final in 2026, losing to Spain.
He made his debut for the Argentina national team in 2005 in a friendly match against Hungary.
Messi’s contract with Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami runs until the end of the 2028 season.
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