Lionel Messi has officially retired from international football, bringing the curtain down on one of the greatest careers in the history of the Argentina national team.
The 39-year-old announced his decision on Monday, August 31, 2026, through an emotional message shared on social media. Messi said the decision was painful, but after reflecting on his future, he believes the time has come to step away from the national team.
Messi made his senior debut for Argentina in 2005 and went on to become the country’s most-capped player and all-time leading scorer, finishing his international career with 207 appearances and 125 goals.
For years, international success seemed to elude the Argentine superstar. He experienced painful defeats in major finals before finally turning the story around.
In 2021, Messi won his first major senior international trophy with Argentina when the team lifted the Copa América. Three years later, Argentina successfully defended the title. Then came the moment millions of Argentine fans had been waiting for.
At the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Messi captained Argentina to victory, defeating France in one of the most dramatic finals in World Cup history.
The trophy completed his collection of major international honours and cemented his place among football’s all-time greats. Messi also led Argentina to the 2026 World Cup final, but the team fell short after losing 1-0 to Spain.
In his farewell message, Messi reflected on his relationship with the Argentina shirt and the years spent representing his country. He said he had given everything he could and believed younger players now deserved the opportunity to take their place in the national team.
The decision was also influenced by the death of his father, Jorge Messi, earlier in August. Messi had written his farewell message shortly after the 2026 World Cup final but later decided to make it public.
Importantly, Messi’s announcement applies to international football, not his club career. The football icon will continue playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
His departure from Argentina’s national team marks the end of an extraordinary era—one that saw him go from a young player struggling to win a major trophy with his country to the captain who finally lifted the World Cup.
After more than two decades, 207 appearances, 125 goals and a World Cup title, Lionel Messi’s Argentina story has officially come to an end.
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