After twenty years, an era in the history of Argentine football has come to an end: Lionel Messi announced on Monday that he will no longer play for the national team. The 39-year-old star announced his decision on social media.
Messi revealed that he had already drafted his farewell message on 21 July, two days after the 2026 World Cup final. Argentina suffered defeat at the hands of Spain in the final. The forward said it was an extremely painful decision, but he feels the time has come to make way for the next generation of Argentine footballers.
🩵🤍 Full statement by Lionel Messi: “I wrote these words on July 21, two days after the final… today, after what happened with my dad, I’m even more convinced of this decision than before”.
“After all this time since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to tell… pic.twitter.com/CraVI8AZnW
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 31, 2026
His recent personal tragedy – the death of his father, Jorge Messi – also reinforced his conviction that now is the time to bring his international career to a close. Messi emphasised that for twenty years he had given his all for the Argentine national team and looks back with pride on the achievements he has shared with his teammates.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner made his debut for the Argentina senior national team in 2005 and scored 125 goals in 207 matches, reaching historic heights in both categories. He has appeared at six World Cups, reaching the final in 2014 and 2026, whilst achieving the greatest success of his international career in 2022, when he led Argentina to the World Cup title in Qatar.
BREAKING: Argentina's Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football 🚨 pic.twitter.com/N9d4NHr0Gr
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 31, 2026
Messi also won the Copa América in 2021 and 2024, and the Finalissima in 2022 with the national team. The 2021 continental title marked a particularly important turning point for him, as it was his first major trophy with the senior national team following many years of unsuccessful finals.
Messi is not yet retiring from club football: he remains an Inter Miami player, with a contract running until 2028. However, with a World Cup title, two Copa América victories and more than two decades of service, one of the greatest chapters in the history of the Argentine national team has now come to a definitive close.
