The announcement, on Instagram
Lionel Messi closed the book on his Argentina career Monday evening. In a message posted on Instagram, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner wrote: “Time has passed since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to let you all know that I’m retiring from the national team. It’s a decision… that still hurts deep down, but I understand it’s the moment.”
The 39-year-old forward, still active at club level with Inter Miami, bows out after 21 years with the Albiceleste.
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A farewell delayed by grief
The World Cup final defeat to Spain, on July 19 in New York, marked Messi’s last appearance in the Argentina shirt. But it was a personal tragedy that delayed the announcement: the death of his father and long-time agent, Jorge Messi, at 68. In mid-August, Messi had already said he didn’t see himself “playing much longer” for the national team.
A first goodbye in 2016, two triumphant returns
This isn’t the first time Messi has stepped away from international football. He announced his retirement from Argentina back in 2016, only to return for the 2018 World Cup and lift the trophy four years later in Qatar. This time, the decision looks like a definitive farewell.
An unmatched Albiceleste résumé
Across 21 years with the national team, Messi won it all: multiple Copa América titles, the 2022 World Cup over France, and one final run in 2026 that ended in heartbreak. It’s a career that will be remembered as one of the greatest in Argentine football history.
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