Lionel Messi announces retirement from Argentina National Team

Lionel Messi has retired from the International scene, he announced on Monday. Messi will no longer suit up for Argentina, with his final game being the World Cup Final loss to Spain. While this is not Messi’s first retirement from his country, it does appear to be his last.

“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, translated by Fabrizio Romano. “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. I always fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you happiness and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.

“I leave with peace and pride, knowing that together with my teammates we gave you moments we once dreamed of. It was crazy to experience all of this with you. I love you! Thank you God for making me Argentine. Vamos Argentina!”

Messi made his competitive debut for Argentina all the way back in 2005. His search for a major international title with the South American giant was a major storyline in soccer for years. Eventually, Messi broke through with the 2021 Copa America. Three years later, Argentina won the Copa America again.

However, the peak of Messi’s career — for club and country — came in Qatar in the winter of 2022. Messi delivered a World Cup for his home country, proving to be the tournament’s best player throughout. He scored in every game of the tournament but one: the third group stage match vs. Poland. This includes the knockout rounds. Messi had two goals in the World Cup Final against France, one of the more exciting soccer games of this generation.

Somehow, his form carried over to the 2026 World Cup in the United States. Messi was instrumental in getting Argentina to another Final, scoring eight goals and dishing out four assists. Argentina breezed through the group stage before producing dramatic moment after dramatic moment in the knockouts before losing to Spain.

In total, Messi made 207 caps for Argentina. He scored 125 goals for them and won three major trophies. Now, Argentina will learn to live life without arguably the greatest player of all time. A new era is loading for head coach Lionel Scaloni.