Lionel Messi Announces Retirement from Argentina Duty at 39

Buenos Aires: After two decades with Argentina, six World Cups and a historic collection of trophies, Lionel Messi has decided to bring his international career to an end. The Argentina captain says the decision is painful but believes the time has come to step aside and make way for the next generation.

Lionel Messi on Monday announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to one of the most remarkable careers in the history of Argentina’s national team.

The 39-year-old confirmed his decision through an Instagram post featuring a handwritten note in Spanish. Messi revealed that he had made the decision shortly after Argentina’s 2026 World Cup final defeat to Spain, but said the death of his father, Jorge Messi, has strengthened his conviction.

Jorge Messi died on August 8 at a hospital in Rosario, Argentina. He was 68.

In his message, Messi wrote:

“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.

“Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply. I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the national team. I’ve given everything I had; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming up who deserve to be here.

“Thank you for all the affection over these past 20 years. I will miss hearing you from the pitch so much. Now I’ll be just one of you, cheering and supporting from the outside (through the good times and the bad – especially the bad).

“Thank you to my family for always being there, for accompanying me on this journey – so beautiful, yet so difficult. Thank you to every coach, teammate, and official I’ve shared this path with. I take with me unforgettable memories and moments.

“I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you – alongside my teammates – moments we once only dreamed of. It was an incredible experience to live this with you all. I love you!

“Thank you, God, for making me Argentine.

“Let’s go, Argentina!”

Messi added a footnote to the post:

“*I wrote these words on July 21st, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my dad, I am even more convinced than before.”

Messi leaves the Argentina national team as its all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, having scored 125 goals in 207 appearances. He is also the highest-scoring male player in South American football history.

His greatest achievement with Argentina came at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, where he led the team to the title, ending the country’s 36-year wait for the trophy and securing Argentina’s third World Cup crown.

Before that triumph, Messi played a central role in ending Argentina’s 28-year wait for a major international trophy. He helped the team win the 2021 Copa América, followed by another Copa América title in 2024.

Messi had previously announced his retirement from international football in 2016 after Argentina suffered defeat in three consecutive finals under his captaincy. However, he later reversed that decision and returned to lead the national side to its historic World Cup triumph.

Now, after six World Cup appearances and more than two decades representing Argentina, Messi believes his international journey has reached its final chapter.

His departure marks the end of an extraordinary era for Argentina, but his legacy is already firmly established: a player who endured years of disappointment before finally delivering the biggest trophies to his country.