Lionel Messi retires from international soccer after 21 years with Argentina Argentina superstar Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international soccer on Monday, ending 21 years of national-team duty capped by winning the World Cup in 2022 and securing his place among the game’s greatest-ever players.
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“It was a decision that hurt — and still hurts deeply — but I understand that the time has come”, the 39-year-old Messi said on Instagram.
Messi, who will continue playing at club level with Inter Miami in MLS, appeared in a record-tying six World Cups. He won the title in 2022 in a tournament he dominated in Qatar, and also led Argentina to the final in 2014 and again this year, when the Albiceleste lost to Spain in extra time in New Jersey. He stands alongside Diego Maradona and Brazil’s Pelé as one of the greatest players of all time — for many, the best.
“I swear to you that I always gave it my all — not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too”, Messi wrote. “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 played 207 games for Argentina and finishes as its all-time leading scorer with 125 goals, 21 of them in World Cups. Only his longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo has more goals in men’s internationals, with 146, and has yet to announce his own retirement from Portugal duty. Messi briefly became the all-time leading World Cup scorer during the recent tournament in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, before finishing one goal behind France’s Kylian Mbappé.
Messi decided two days after World Cup final
In a lengthy social media post, Messi explained he wrote his retirement letter on July 21 — two days after the World Cup final, in which he struggled to make an impact — but waited to publish it because his father was facing health issues that eventually claimed his life. Jorge Messi died on August 8 in his native Rosario.
Two months after starring at the 2005 U-20 World Championship, scoring both of Argentina’s goals in the final, Messi made his senior Argentina debut at 18; his first appearance lasted just two minutes, as a substitute sent off against Hungary in Budapest. His journey with the national team was marked by frustration — he briefly retired in 2016 after three defeats in three consecutive major finals — before finally lifting the World Cup in 2022, in between also winning Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024.
“Thank you for all the love these past 20 years”, he 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”.
Messi did not say how long he intends to keep playing. His recent World Cup form, along with a four-goal display for Inter Miami over the weekend in a 7-1 win over CF Montreal, showed he remains one of the best players in the world. “I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you — along with my teammates — moments we once only dreamed of. Experiencing this with you was incredible. I love you all”, he added.
The second retirement
Messi’s recent success with Argentina nearly didn’t happen. A decade ago, he retired from the national team following Argentina’s defeat in the 2016 Copa América final to Chile on penalties, missing one himself. A public campaign led by Maradona and the Argentine president changed his mind, and Messi returned to the national team, continuing to star for Barcelona, then Paris Saint-Germain, then Inter Miami.
He is a two-time MLS MVP, the star of the league’s championship team, and a record eight-time world player of the year. “He is pure history”, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said during the recent World Cup. “History. A legend”.
Forever grateful
The retirement announcement sparked a wave of reactions. Argentina President Javier Milei wrote on Instagram: “Thank you very much, impossible man”. FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised Messi “for an extraordinary international career that has inspired millions of people and redefined our sport”. The Argentine Football Association wrote: “Thank you for everything, Leo. Thank you for representing Argentina. The legend is yours, forever.”.
Teammate Rodrigo De Paul highlighted “your unconditional love for our country, your internal battles to never give up, your strength in always enduring injustices, and your leadership”. Leandro Paredes said, “You are and always will be the greatest of all time”. Defender Cristian Romero added: “I love you, I admire you, and I will always be grateful for the impact you’ve had on me and on our country.”.
- Source: AP