Lionel Messi retires from international football

“It was a decision that hurt — and still hurts deeply — but I understand that the time has come,” the 39-year-old Messi said in a statement posted on Instagram.

He said he had always given everything for Argentina, not only during the years when the team won major titles but throughout his entire international career.

“I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football,” Messi said.

Messi represented Argentina at a record-tying six World Cups, winning the title in Qatar in 2022. He also guided the team to this year’s World Cup final, where Argentina lost to Spain in extra time in New Jersey.

Messi revealed that he had written his retirement message on June 21, two days after the World Cup final, but delayed publishing it because his father was suffering from health problems. Jorge Messi died in his hometown of Rosario on Aug. 8.

The retirement will not end Messi’s club career. He will continue playing for Inter Miami, for whom he scored four goals in a 7-1 victory over CF Montreal over the weekend.

Messi made his Argentina debut in 2006, but his international career was marked by years of disappointment before he finally lifted the World Cup trophy in 2022.

“Thank you for all the love these past 20 years,” Messi said. “I'm going to miss hearing you all from the inside so much. Now I'm going to be one of you, cheering and supporting you from the outside.”

The Inter Miami captain did not indicate how much longer he plans to continue playing at club level.

“I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you — along with my teammates — moments we once only dreamed of,” he said. “Experiencing this with you was incredible. I love you all.”

Second international retirement

Messi’s recent success with Argentina came after a difficult period that had once led him to retire from the national team.

In 2016, he announced his retirement after Argentina lost the Copa América final to Chile on penalties, with Messi missing one of Argentina’s spot kicks.

He later reversed that decision and continued his career, starring for Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami.

He helped Argentina win the Copa América in 2021 and 2024 before finally securing the World Cup in 2022.

Messi has also continued to excel at Inter Miami, winning the Major League Soccer Most Valuable Player award in consecutive seasons and remaining one of the league’s most influential players, reports UNB.

“He is pure history,” Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said during the recent World Cup. “History. A legend.”