Lionel Messi officially announces his international retirement

Lionel Messi. USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Lionel Messi officially announces his international retirement

By Vanessa Serrao | Last updated Aug 31, 2026 1:16 PM ET

Lionel Messi officially announced his retirement from international soccer on Monday, putting an end to his career as Argentina's top goal scorer and longest serving representative for the team.

His unforgettable run with Argentina will forever remain a huge milestone for the veteran as he bids farewell to the international sport.

Argentina lost to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, ending Messi's sixth World Cup campaign and marking a pivotal moment for one of the most iconic players in the game.

Messi's remarkable career started in 2006, where he made his first appearance with Argentina on the World Cup Stage and scored two goals. While he is ending his chapter with Argentina, he can now focus on his MLS career with Inter Miami, for which he scored four goals and helped the team beat CF Montréal, 7-1 on Saturday. He leads the league with 18 goals this season, and his goal is to help the team chase another trophy.

Breaking: Lionel Messi announced that he is retiring from the Argentina national team. pic.twitter.com/AKlQtS5g7i
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) August 31, 2026

Greatest chapter of Lionel Messi's career comes to an end

Messi put up legendary numbers with Argentina, finishing with 125 goals and 68 assists across 207 appearances over 20 years with the national team. He was a force to be reckoned with on the international stage, as he provided two of the best World Cup performances in 2022 and 2026.

But his accomplishments don't end there, as he was a champion in the 2008 Olympic Games, 2021 and 2024 Copa America and the 2022 Finalissima.

While it wasn't an easy decision for Messi, he felt it was the right time to retire following the passing of his father. Part of Messi's full statement on his retirement from Argentina was heartwarming, as he states, according to ESPN:

"After the time that has passed since the final, and after giving it a lot of thought, I want to let everyone know that I am retiring from the Argentina national team...

"It was a decision that hurt -- and still hurts deep down -- but I understand that the time has come. 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; 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."

Vanessa Serrao

Serrao is a freelance baseball writer who has covered all MLB teams, with particular expertise on the Toronto Blue Jays. She is a member of the Internet Baseball Writers Association of America.

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