Lionel Messi has confirmed his retirement from international football, ending a two-decade association with the Argentina national team that produced a World Cup title, two Copa América crowns and a legacy few in the sport’s history can rival.
The 39-year-old broke the news in a lengthy, personal statement shared on social media, describing it as one of the hardest decisions of his career.
According to the statement, Messi explained that he had written his message on 21 July, only two days after Argentina’s World Cup final defeat to Spain at MetLife Stadium, but had held off on releasing it. He said the recent death of his father and longtime representative, Jorge Messi, had strengthened his resolve to finally step away from the national team.
Messi described the choice as painful but necessary, insisting he had “nothing more to give” and that a new generation of Argentine talent deserved the opportunity to carry the shirt forward.
He was emphatic that his commitment to the national team had never wavered, from his early years through to the trophy-laden run that defined the back half of his international career.
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.”
Messi reflected warmly on the bond he built with Argentine supporters over the years, saying he would miss experiencing the national team “from the inside” but looked forward to now cheering from among the fans, in victory and defeat alike.
He offered thanks to his family, his coaches, his teammates and the federation officials who accompanied him through what he called a beautiful but difficult journey.
The announcement brings closure to a career that has already been officially “ended” once before.
Messi famously announced his international retirement in the aftermath of Argentina’s 2016 Copa América Centenario final defeat to Chile, only to reverse the decision months later under pressure from fans across the country.
This time, following the crowning achievement of the 2022 World Cup and a runner-up finish in 2026, the decision appears final.
Career With Argentina
By The Numbers
Appearances 207
Goals 125
Assists 68
Goal Contributions 193
FIFA World Cup 1x (2022)
Copa América 2x
CONMEBOL–UEFA Finalissima 1x
Olympic Gold Medal 1x
FIFA U-20 World Cup 1x
Messi made his senior Argentina debut in 2005 and went on to become the country’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped outfield player, captaining the side through some of the most dramatic chapters in South American football.
His international peak arrived in Qatar in 2022, when he finally lifted the World Cup after three earlier final defeats, silencing years of debate over his standing among Argentina’s football greats.
He returned to the World Cup stage in 2026, guiding Argentina back to the final before falling 1–0 to Spain after extra time.
Messi’s departure closes out the international side of a story that reshaped Argentine football, and attention will now turn to how coach Lionel Scaloni’s side rebuilds around the next generation of talent he referenced in his statement.