Argentine football icon Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 39, bringing an extraordinary 21-year career with the Argentina national team to an end.
Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, leaves the international stage as Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer and appearance maker. He scored 125 goals in 207 appearances, setting records that may be difficult for future generations of Argentine players to surpass.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner’s international career reached its peak in recent years. After years of disappointment on the international stage, Messi finally guided Argentina to victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he captained the team to glory and played a central role throughout the tournament.
His success continued with Argentina’s victories in the 2021 and 2024 Copa América tournaments, as well as the inaugural Finalissima in 2022, where Argentina defeated Italy. With those triumphs, Messi retires having won virtually every major international trophy available to him.
The 39-year-old also demonstrated that he still had plenty to offer despite his advancing age, leading Argentina to another World Cup final this summer. However, the defeat in the final reportedly affected him deeply and contributed to his decision to bring his international career to a close.
Messi revealed that he had originally written his retirement statement on July 21, just two days after the final. Reflecting on the defeat, he admitted that the result “hurt deeply” and that he felt he had reached a point where he had “nothing left to give.”
The football superstar had also hinted at his retirement earlier in August following the death of his father, Jorge. According to Messi, the loss strengthened his resolve to step away from international football.
In his latest statement shared on Instagram, Messi explained that the passing of his father had made him even more certain about the decision he had already been considering.
His retirement marks the end of one of the most remarkable international careers in football history. From making his Argentina debut 21 years ago to becoming the nation’s most-capped player and leading them to multiple major trophies, Messi leaves behind a historic legacy that combines individual records with long-awaited international success.
Messi’s international achievements include:
🏆 2022 FIFA World Cup
🏆 2021 Copa América
🏆 2024 Copa América
🏆 2022 Finalissima
⚽ 125 international goals
👕 207 appearances for Argentina
🥇 Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer
🥇 Argentina’s most-capped player
🏅 Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner
Messi’s decision is expected to generate an emotional reaction from football fans around the world, as one of the sport’s most celebrated careers officially enters its final chapter.
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