Argentina icon Lionel Messi announced his retirement from the national team on Monday.
“It was a decision that hurt, and still hurts deep inside, but I understand that this is the right moment,” Messi said in an open letter shared on Instagram.
Messi, 39, added that he originally wrote his retirement letter two days after Argentina’s 1-0 loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final on July 19. He said the loss of his father, Jorge, who died Aug. 8 after a lengthy health battle, further convinced him of his decision.
“Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply,” Messi wrote. “I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the national team. I’ve given everything I had; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming up who deserve to be here.”
Messi played in six World Cups with the Albiceleste, guiding them to one title in three final appearances. He’s Argentina’s all-time leader in goals (125) and official appearances (207).
The Inter Miami star debuted with Argentina’s main squad in 2005 at age 18 and scored his first national team goal in 2006. He later became the youngest Argentine to represent and score for the Albiceleste at the 2006 World Cup.
Messi’s decorated career in international soccer was once marked by its lack of trophies. He briefly retired from the national team after losing three finals in as many years – at the 2014 World Cup and Copa America (2015 and 2016) – but later rejoined Argentina for the 2018 World Cup.
Although Argentina fell to France in the round of 16 in 2018, Messi would go on to collect several trophies and cement his legacy in international soccer. He helped Argentina beat Brazil in the 2021 Copa America final at Maracana Stadium, ending the Albiceleste’s 28-year trophy drought, and then led the team to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022. Messi and Co. also won the 2024 Copa America.
Messi scored 21 goals in his World Cup career, the second-most ever. He’s the only man to win two Golden Ball awards as the quadrennial tournament’s best player since the honor was officially introduced in 1982.
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