Lionel Messi has retired from international football with Argentina at age 39 following their 1-0 World Cup final defeat to Spain on July 19.
The forward revealed on Monday afternoon that he had decided to step down two days after the final in North America, explaining that he felt it was the right time. He added in a note that the death of his father, Jorge, at the start of August made him even more convinced of his decision.
In a statement published on Instagram, Messi wrote that the decision hurt to his core, but that he had given everything for the jersey throughout his 21 years in the team.
"After all this time that has passed since the final, and after much thought, I want to announce to everyone that I am retiring from the National Team," Messi said. "It was a decision that hurt, and still hurts, to my core, but I understand that it's the right time. I swear that I always gave my all, not just in the last few years when we won everything, but before that too. I always fought and gave everything for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you proud to be Argentinian through football."
Messi explained that he felt he had no more to give and highlighted the emergence of young players ready to replace him in the national setup.
"There's not much time left, and chapters are closing, and this is one that hurts me deeply," he wrote. "I love, loved, and will always love being on the National Team. I've given everything I have; I have nothing more to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming up behind me who deserve to be there."
"Thank you for all the love and support over these 20 years. I'm going to miss hearing you all from the inside so much. Now I'm going to be just one of you, cheering and supporting you from the sidelines (in good times and bad, even more so)," Messi continued.
"Thank you to my family for always being there, for accompanying me on this beautiful but difficult journey. Thank you to each and every one of the coaches, teammates, and managers I had the privilege of working with. I take with me unforgettable memories and moments. I leave with the peace and pride of having given you, along with my teammates, dreamlike moments. It was incredible to have experienced it with you all. I love you! Thank you, God, for making me Argentinian. Go Argentina!"
In a note at the bottom of his statement, Messi added: "I wrote these words on July 21st, two days after the final. Today, after what happened to my dad, I'm even more convinced than before."
International career and tournament records
Messi made his senior international debut for Argentina in 2005 as an 18-year-old. Across 21 years representing his country, he made 207 appearances, scoring 125 goals and providing 60 assists in the blue and white jersey.
During his time with the national team, Messi won five titles, including captaining Argentina to their third World Cup victory at the 2022 tournament in Qatar. He scored seven of his 21 career World Cup goals during that tournament, including two goals in the final at Lusail Stadium as Argentina defeated France.
Messi also captained Argentina to two Copa America titles. His international career featured major finals on the world stage, including World Cup final defeats against Germany in 2014 and against Spain in the 2026 tournament hosted in the United States, Mexico and Canada, where he scored eight goals.
Family tragedy and father's passing
The announcement follows the death of Messi's father, Jorge Messi, who died on August 7 after a battle with illness that overshadowed the Argentina captain's World Cup campaign in North America.
Jorge was an integral figure in the career of his son. During the tournament, Messi broke down in tears after Argentina's group stage victory against Algeria while his father's health was deteriorating.
Following Jorge's death, Messi shared a letter to his father on Instagram in which he expressed deep grief and cast doubt on his playing career.
"Dad, I still can't believe you're gone. It hasn't sunk in yet, or rather, I don't want to accept it. It's very difficult for me to imagine never seeing you again, never talking to you again. I know you were suffering and that this is for the best, but you left too soon. We still had so much to enjoy together," Messi wrote.
"I don't know what I'll do without you, I don't know how to go on. I only played football and now I have serious doubts that I'll continue doing that for much longer. You were by my side from the beginning, it was so close to the end. Why couldn't you hold on that little bit longer and we could have finished together?"
Messi revealed that his father was the driving force behind his decision to play at the 2026 World Cup. Stepping away from international duty means Messi will not play at a record seventh World Cup in four years, when he will be 43 years old.
Tributes from teammates and rival
The news of Messi's international retirement brought tributes from across football, with several members of the Argentina squad sharing messages of gratitude on social media.
Midfielder Rodrigo De Paul, regarded as one of Messi's closest teammates, posted a message on his Instagram story. "Your unconditional love for our country, your internal battles to never give up, your strength to always endure injustice, your leadership and human qualities with every player who entered the training grounds to make them feel welcome, the thoughtful gestures towards every member of our national team staff... Simply thank you, the greatest of all time, thank you for making us so incredibly happy, you can't imagine how many smiles you brought to our faces. You are eternal," De Paul wrote.
Teammate Leandro Paredes, who is serving a ten-match international ban following the World Cup final, praised Messi on social media. "Thank you for absolutely everything," Paredes wrote. "You are and always will be the greatest of all. We love you, captain." Teammates Angel Di Maria and Cristian Romero also posted messages expressing affection for their captain.
The death of Messi's father also prompted tributes from former clubs Newell's Old Boys and Barcelona, as well as rival Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo, whose father Jose Dinis Aveiro passed away in 2005, offered support, sending "much strength" to Messi during tough times.
Club career and future plans
Messi is expected to continue playing at club level for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, where his contract runs until 2028. He recently scored four goals in Inter Miami's 7-1 league victory over CF Montreal.
Messi's club career began in 2000 when he moved from Newell's Old Boys in Argentina to join Barcelona's La Masia academy in Spain. He played 21 years for Barcelona before moving to Paris Saint-Germain in France in 2021, a transfer orchestrated by his father Jorge. He joined Inter Miami in 2023, where he is set to play for two more years as he enters his 40s.
