Argentine superstar footballer Lionel Messi announces international retirement

Lionel Messi, the legendary Argentine footballer, announced his retirement from international football on Monday. Messi, 39, is widely regarded as the greatest football player of all time. He led Argentina to victory in the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar, their first title since 1986. However, their appearance at the 2026 World Cup ended in a loss to Spain in the final.

Messi, despite being past his prime, was the second-highest scorer in the 2026 World Cup with eight goals, only trailing behind Kylian Mbappe's ten. He is second on the all-time World Cup goalscorer list, only one goal behind Mbappe. Messi expressed deep emotional pain over his decision to retire, stating it was the right time and that he had given everything.

He intended to bring joy to Argentina fans and make them proud through football. Messi holds the record for the most appearances for his country, with 207 in which he scored 125 goals. He is Argentina's most capped player. His club career will continue at Inter Miami until the end of the 2028 MLS season. Messi had serious doubts about continuing his football career for much longer following his father's death in August.