Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to his 21-year Argentina career after winning the World Cup and becoming the country’s most-capped player and leading scorer.
The 39-year-old confirmed his decision in an emotional Instagram statement on Monday, writing: “After the time that has passed since the final, and after giving it a lot of thought, I want to let everyone know that I am retiring from the National Team.”
“It was a decision that hurt – and still hurts deep down – but I understand that the time has come,” Messi added.
His announcement came several weeks after Argentina finished runners-up to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. Messi had led his country to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar and remained captain during their run to a second successive final.
Messi’s international career began in 2005. He leaves with 125 goals in 207 appearances for Argentina, records that place him clear at the top of both the nation’s scoring and appearance charts.
Messi’s future with Inter Miami
The forward is contracted to Inter Miami until the end of the 2028 Major League Soccer season, meaning his retirement applies to Argentina rather than necessarily marking the end of his playing career.
However, Messi had cast doubt on his wider future in football after the death of his father, Jorge, earlier this month. In a tribute to his father, he said: “I don’t know how to carry on. I used to just play football, and now I’m really not sure if I’ll carry on doing it for much longer.”
Announcing his international retirement, Messi wrote: “Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply.”
He has scored 921 goals for Barcelona, Paris St-Germain, Inter Miami and Argentina, and departs the national team after more than two decades as the defining figure of Argentina’s modern football history.
