Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football at age 39, ending a 21-year career with Argentina that included a World Cup victory and multiple Copa America titles.
Argentina captain Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, concluding a two-decade career with the national team. In a statement released on social media on Monday, the 39-year-old acknowledged the difficulty of the decision while emphasizing that the time had come for him to step away from international competition.
Messi departs as Argentina's most-capped player and leading goalscorer in history, having earned 207 appearances and scored 125 goals since his senior debut in 2005. His international career culminated in Argentina's defence of their World Cup title in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, where the team suffered a 1-0 defeat to Spain. His most celebrated achievement came in 2022 when he captained Argentina to victory in the Qatar World Cup, followed by Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner indicated that multiple factors influenced his decision, including pride in his accomplishments with the national team and recognition of an emerging new generation of Argentine players. He stated that he has "nothing left to give" to the international side after dedicating himself fully to the national team throughout his career. Despite stepping away from international football, Messi intends to continue his club career with Inter Miami in the United States.