Lionel Messi, Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer and captain, has announced his retirement from international football, closing a 21-year career with the national team . The 39-year-old made the announcement via social media on Monday, ending weeks of speculation since Argentina’s heartbreaking World Cup final defeat to Spain.
In an emotional statement, Messi revealed he had written his farewell message on July 21, just two days after the 1-0 extra-time loss at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey . He held back from publishing it at the time but said the recent death of his father and long-time agent, Jorge Messi, had reinforced his decision to step away .
“It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul,” Messi wrote. “But I understand that it is the right moment” .
A Career of Triumph and Heartbreak
Messi’s international journey began in 2005 and saw him earn 207 caps and score 125 goals—both Argentine records . For years, he carried the weight of a nation’s expectations through a string of final defeats: the 2014 World Cup, and the 2015 and 2016 Copa América finals .
His perseverance was rewarded with a historic run of trophies: the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, and—most significantly—the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where he scored twice in a penalty-shootout victory over France to deliver Argentina’s first world title since 1986 . He added another Copa América crown in 2024 before leading his country to a second consecutive World Cup final this year .
At the 2026 tournament, Messi scored eight goals and broke Miroslav Klose’s all-time World Cup scoring record, finishing his career with 21 goals in the competition .
“I Don’t Have Anything More to Give”
Messi said he believed the emergence of a younger generation of Argentine talent made this the right time to step aside.
“I love, I loved, and I will always love being part of the national team,” he wrote. “I gave everything I had, and I don’t have anything more to give. There are great young players coming through who deserve to be here” .
He thanked the fans who supported him over two decades: “Now I’ll be one of you, always supporting from the outside—in the good times and even more in the bad ones” .
The Influence of Jorge Messi
Jorge Messi, who passed away on August 7 at age 68 after a prolonged illness, was the architect of his son’s career . A former steelworker and youth player at Newell’s Old Boys, he accompanied 13-year-old Lionel to Barcelona for a trial that changed football history . As his agent, he negotiated every contract, including transfers to Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami .
Jorge’s declining health had already cast a shadow over the 2026 World Cup—he was unable to travel to the United States to watch his son play . After scoring against Algeria in the group stage, a visibly emotional Messi dedicated his celebration to his family, revealing he had been going through “difficult, complicated days” .
“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” .
Legacy
Messi leaves the international stage as one of football’s greatest figures, having transformed from a young prodigy criticized for failing to deliver silverware into the captain who finally brought World Cup glory back to Argentina . His club career will continue with Inter Miami, where he remains under contract .
“Thank you God for making me Argentine,” he wrote. “Vamos Argentina!”
