Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from the Argentina national team, bringing an end to a 20-year international career that saw him lead La Albiceleste through one of the most successful eras in its history.
The 39-year-old captain confirmed his decision in an emotional farewell message, saying the choice was painful but that he felt the time had come to step away.
“After all this time since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to tell everyone that I’m retiring from the national team,” Messi said.
“It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep inside, but I understand that this is the right moment. I swear I always gave everything, not only in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too.”
Messi said he had always fought to bring joy to Argentina's supporters and make them proud through football.
“I always fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you happiness and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football,” he said.
The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner also pointed to the emergence of younger players as another reason to bring his international career to a close.
“There are great young players coming through who deserve to be here,” he said.
Thanking supporters for their backing over the past 20 years, Messi said he would now follow Argentina as a fan.
“Now I’ll be one of you, always supporting from the outside, in the good times and even more in the bad ones,” he said.
Messi leaves the national team after an extraordinary run that included the 2022 FIFA World Cup and consecutive Copa América titles. He also established himself as Argentina's all-time leading goalscorer during a career spanning more than 200 international appearances.
His decision comes after Argentina's defeat in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final and the recent death of his father, Jorge Messi, a loss that Messi referenced in explaining why he had become even more certain about his decision.
Messi is expected to continue his club career in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, where he remains under contract.