Argentina captain Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to a remarkable 21-year career with the national team.
The 39-year-old confirmed his decision in a statement on social media on Monday, saying the decision was painful but that he believed the time had come to step away.
“It was a decision that hurt — and still hurts deep down — but I understand that the time has come,” Messi said.
Messi ends his international career as Argentina’s record appearance-maker and goalscorer, having scored 125 goals in 207 appearances since making his senior debut in 2005.
His greatest achievement with Argentina came in 2022, when he captained the country to the FIFA World Cup title in Qatar.
Messi also led Argentina to Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024, completing a dramatic turnaround in an international career that had previously included defeats in the 2014 World Cup final and successive Copa America finals.
His final appearance for Argentina came in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, where the defending champions suffered a 1-0 defeat to Spain.
Messi said he was leaving with pride over what he and his teammates had achieved and indicated that the emergence of a new generation of Argentine players also influenced his decision.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner will continue his club career with Inter Miami in the United States. (Newswire)