Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to one of the most decorated careers in the history of the Argentina national team.
The 39-year-old confirmed his decision on Monday, August 31, 2026, in an emotional message posted on Instagram, just weeks after Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in extra time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
Messi said the decision was painful but acknowledged that he had reached a point where it was time to close the chapter.
“Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply.”
He added that he would always love representing Argentina but believed he had given everything he could to the national team.
Messi’s international career began in 2005 and spanned more than two decades. He leaves Argentina as the country’s all-time leading scorer and appearance holder, with 207 caps and 125 goals.
His greatest achievement with the national team came at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he captained Argentina to their first World Cup triumph since 1986.
He also won the Copa América in 2021 and 2024, completing a remarkable turnaround after years of disappointment in major international finals.
The Barcelona legend also featured in a record six World Cups. After leading Argentina to the 2026 final, he finished his World Cup career with appearances in the 2014 and 2026 finals, winning the tournament in 2022. FIFA described his departure as the closing of an era for both Messi and Argentina.
Messi’s decision was also influenced by the recent death of his father, Jorge Messi, who died on August 8 at the age of 68. The Argentine star indicated that the loss reinforced his decision to step away from international football.
However, Messi has not retired from football altogether.
He remains a player for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, where he is under contract through the end of the 2028 MLS season.
The club recently extended his contract, meaning he is expected to continue his professional club career despite ending his international duties with Argentina.
The announcement therefore marks the end of Messi’s Argentina career rather than his retirement from the sport.
His departure brings to a close an extraordinary international journey that included 125 goals, a World Cup title, two Copa América crowns and a legacy that has established him as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
