Argentina and Inter Miami superstar Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, bringing his remarkable career with the national team to an end.
Messi made the announcement on Monday, August 31, 2026, in an emotional statement shared on his Instagram account.
The 39-year-old said the decision was painful but acknowledged that he believes the time has come to step away from the Argentina national team.
Messi said he had given everything to the national team throughout his more than two-decade international career and expressed pride in representing Argentina and making supporters proud.
He also said he believes the time has come for a new generation of players to have their opportunity with the national team.
“I love, I have loved, and I will always love being with the national team,” Messi said in his farewell message.
He thanked his family, coaches, teammates, officials and supporters for their backing throughout his international career, adding that he would now support Argentina from outside the team.
Messi’s decision comes after Argentina’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, which was his final appearance for the national team.
The legendary forward leaves international football after 207 appearances and 125 goals for Argentina, having won the 2022 FIFA World Cup and Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024.
Messi also revealed that he had written the retirement message on July 21, two days after the World Cup final, but said recent events involving his late father had made him even more convinced of the decision.
His father, Jorge Messi, died earlier in August at the age of 68.
Messi’s retirement marks the end of one of the greatest international careers in football history, with the Argentine captain having played a central role in some of the most successful years in the country’s football history.
