I have watched Messi grow into a legend for Argentina. Messi has announced his retirement from football, ending an extraordinary 21-year career with the national team.
Messi, 39 year old announced this decision on Monday in a statement. Messi says the choice was painful. Messi knows the time had come to step away from international football. Messi ends his Argentina career with 207 appearances and 125 goals.
Messi’s last game for Argentina happened in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. In that match, Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time.
Messi’s retirement closes one of the most international careers in football history. Messi’s journey was marked by disappointments before Messi finally led Argentina to major international glory.
From heartbreaking defeats to World Cup triumph
Messi began his journey with the Argentina team in 2005 and has played for Argentina for more than twenty years.
For years Messi faced criticism after Argentina lost major finals, such, as the 2014 World Cup final and the 2015 and 2016 Copa América finals.
Messi’s fortunes changed in 2021 when Messi led Argentina to victory in the Copa América, securing Messi’s major senior international trophy with the national team.
Messi followed that success by helping Argentina win the Finalissima in 2022 before producing one of the defining performances of Messi’s career at the Qatar World Cup that year.
Messi scored seven goals during the 2022 tournament. Scored twice in the final against France before converting Messi’s penalty in the shootout as Argentina lifted the World Cup for the first time since 1986.
Messi later added another Copa América title in 2024.
Messi set for his final World Cup
Messi stayed on as the captain of Argentina during the 2026 World Cup. The team reached the final for the first time in Messi’s career.
Argentina eventually lost to Spain in extra time. This loss denied Messi the chance to finish his career with another World Cup win.
Messi’s decision to retire comes weeks after the death of his father and long-time agent Jorge Messi. Jorge Messi died in Rosario on August 8 at the age of 68.
This month, Messi had already raised doubts about his future after his father’s death. Messi said he was unsure whether he would continue playing for longer.
Argentina’s all-time top goalscorer
I am amazed. Messi leaves the team as Argentinas all-time leading goalscorer and appearance-maker.
His international achievements include:
- 1 FIFA World Cup — 2022
- 2 Copa América titles — 2021, 2024
- 1 Finalissima — 2022
- 207 international appearances
- 125 international goals
Messi also won the Golden Ball at the 2014 World Cup. Again at the 2022 World Cup.
Messis retirement signals the end of an era, for Argentina because Messi grew from a criticised young star to the countrys most decorated modern footballer.
Messi continues his club career with Inter Miami
Messis retirement from football does not mean the end of his playing career.
The Argentine stays with Inter Miami, where he keeps playing in Major League Soccer.
One day before announcing his retirement Messi scored four goals and had an assist in Inter Miamis 7-1 victory over CF Montréal showing that he can still deliver important performances at the club level.
For Argentina the Messi era has now officially ended.
After than twenty years several painful losses and some of the best wins, in the countrys football history the captain is leaving the shirt he wore for twenty-one years.
