Argentina captain Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 39, bringing an end to a remarkable career with the national team.
Messi announced on Monday in an Instagram post, saying the decision was difficult but that he believed the time had come to step away from international football.
“I have given everything I had; I have nothing left to give,” Messi said, while expressing gratitude to his teammates, coaches, family and Argentine supporters.
The announcement came shortly after Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, where Messi led his country to the final after previously guiding them to the title in Qatar in 2022.
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Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, died on August 8 at the age of 68. In a note attached to his retirement message, the football star said his father’s death had strengthened his decision to leave the national team.
Messi finishes his international career as Argentina’s most-capped player and all-time leading goalscorer, with 207 appearances and 125 goals.
During his international career, he helped Argentina end a 28-year wait for a major trophy by winning the 2021 Copa América. He later led the team to another Copa América title in 2024 and the 2022 World Cup, Argentina’s first global triumph in 36 years.
Messi had previously announced his international retirement in 2016 after Argentina lost three consecutive major finals. He reversed the decision shortly afterwards and went on to enjoy the most successful period of his international career.
Widely regarded as one of Argentina’s greatest footballers alongside Diego Maradona, Messi leaves the national team as one of the most decorated and influential players in the country’s history.
