Argentina football legend Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, bringing down the curtain on a remarkable national team career that spanned more than two decades and produced some of the most memorable moments in the history of the game.
The 39-year-old Inter Miami forward announced his decision on Monday through an emotional message on social media, saying the decision had been painful but that he believed the time had come to step aside from the Argentina national team.
Messi leaves international football as Argentina's most-capped player and all-time leading scorer, having made 207 appearances and scored 125 goals for his country.
His retirement follows Argentina's defeat to Spain in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, ending his international career without the fairytale conclusion of a second World Cup title.
However, Messi's legacy with Argentina was secured long before his final appearance.
After years of painful defeats and criticism over his failure to win a major senior international trophy, Messi led Argentina into one of the most successful periods in the country's football history.
He captained the team to Copa America triumphs in 2021 and 2024 before achieving the crowning moment of his international career by leading Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup title in Qatar.
The World Cup victory ended Argentina's 36-year wait for football's biggest prize and cemented Messi's status as a national hero.
Messi also helped Argentina win the Finalissima and had earlier won an Olympic gold medal with the country's under-23 side.
In his retirement message, the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner reflected on the sacrifices he had made for the national team, saying he had always given everything while wearing the Argentina shirt.
The announcement marks the end of one of the greatest international careers in football history and closes a chapter that saw Messi transform from a gifted but often criticised young star into the leader who finally delivered the trophies Argentina had long demanded.
While his days in the famous sky-blue and white shirt are now over, Messi's playing career is not yet finished, with the Argentine superstar continuing his club football career at Inter Miami.
For Argentina and football fans around the world, however, the retirement of Messi from international football signals the end of an extraordinary era.
"A legend has left the international stage, but his place in football history is already secure."
