Lionel Messi retires from Argentina national team after 21 years

Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, closing a 21-year Argentina career that brought the country its first World Cup since 1986 and two Copa América titles. The 39-year-old confirmed the decision in an Instagram post on Monday, writing that the choice "hurt" but that he understood "the time has come".

Messi said he wrote the retirement message on 21 July, two days after Argentina lost to Spain in this summer's World Cup final. The death of his father, Jorge, earlier in August had made him "more convinced than before", he added.

"Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply," Messi wrote. "I've given it my all, I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some really great young players coming through behind me who deserve their chance."

Messi departs as Argentina's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, with 125 goals in 207 appearances. He made his debut in a 2005 friendly against Hungary, when he was sent off within a minute of coming on for catching Vilmos Vanczak with an elbow. He won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, scoring in every knockout round including twice in the final against France, and lifted the Copa América in 2021 and 2024.

His international retirement does not end his club career. Messi remains under contract with Inter Miami through the 2028 MLS season, and he scored four goals in a 7-1 win over CF Montreal on Saturday, two days before the announcement.

The decision follows a first, brief retirement in 2016 after Argentina lost the Copa América final to Chile on penalties. Messi reversed that choice and went on to win the 2021 Copa América in Brazil, ending a run of four major final defeats.

Former teammates paid tribute. Ángel Di María wrote that he was "born in the right century to be able to see you, enjoy you and, above all, share with you all these years". Rodrigo de Paul said Messi was "eternal", and Enzo Fernández, who as a teenager had pleaded with Messi to reverse his 2016 retirement, said: "That kid was so lucky. Thank you for letting me share a part of your story."

Messi told Argentina fans he would now be "just one of you, always cheering and supporting from the sidelines". He signed off: "It was incredible to have experienced this with you all. I love you!"