Key Takeaways
- Lionel Messi has retired from Argentina’s national team at the age of 39.
- Messi finished with 125 goals in 207 appearances for Argentina.
- He won the 2022 World Cup and 2 Copa América titles.
Lionel Messi Announces Retirement from international soccer at age 39, bringing his remarkable 20-year career with Argentina’s national team to an end. The captain confirmed his decision Monday in a handwritten message shared on Instagram, explaining that he had reached a point where he had nothing left to give to the national team.
Messi Ends 20 Year Argentina Career
Messi’s decision follows Argentina’s 2026 World Cup campaign, where the team reached the final before losing to Spain. The tournament was Messi’s sixth World Cup appearance, extending his record as Argentina’s most experienced player at the competition.
Messi leaves the national team as its all-time leading scorer and most-capped player. He scored 125 goals in 207 appearances for Argentina, making him the highest-scoring male player in South American international soccer.
His international career included 4 major tournament victories. Messi helped Argentina win the Copa América in 2021, ending a 28-year wait for a major international trophy. Argentina then retained the Copa América title in 2024 before Messi captained the team to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The World Cup victory was Argentina’s first since 1986 and its third overall. Messi also received the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player after scoring 7 goals during the competition.
Lionel Messi Announces Retirement for a second time after previously stepping away from international soccer in 2016. He made that decision following Argentina’s loss to Chile in the Copa América final, after also suffering defeats in the 2014 World Cup final and the 2015 Copa América final.
He later reversed that decision and returned to the national team. His return was followed by Argentina’s most successful period in decades, including its Copa América victories and World Cup triumph.
A Record Career Comes To An End
In his retirement message, Messi thanked his family, coaches, teammates, officials, and supporters for their role throughout his international career. He also said younger players deserved opportunities with the national team.
Messi’s announcement came shortly after the death of his father, Jorge Messi, who died on August 8 at age 68 in Rosario, Argentina. Messi said the personal loss had strengthened his decision to retire from international soccer.
The announcement prompted tributes from former teammates, football officials, and other prominent figures in the sport. Argentina Football Association thanked Messi for representing the country, while FIFA president Gianni Infantino highlighted his international career and influence on football.
Messi’s wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, also posted a tribute on Instagram, recalling his determination throughout his career and his eventual success with Argentina.
For Argentina, Lionel Messi Announces Retirement marks the end of an era defined by four major international trophies and his record-breaking achievements as the nation’s leading scorer and most-capped player. Messi concludes his international career with 125 goals in 207 appearances, having made his final World Cup appearance at the 2026 tournament.
Sources:
https://apnews.com/article/messi-argentina-retires-8df27ab2059a740ea5bc97dbc6a49725
