It 'hurts' says Messi as he retires from international football

Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, expressing that the decision was both painful and the right time. The 39-year-old forward led Argentina to a second consecutive World Cup final in July, where they lost to Spain in a closely contested match. Messi, who won the World Cup in 2022 and scored 125 goals for his country, stated that he gave everything throughout his career, but now feels he has nothing more to contribute.

Following his father's death in August, Messi had expressed serious doubts about continuing to play football. He has played 207 times for Argentina and is their leading scorer. Messi's contract with Inter Miami extends until the end of 2028. Despite his immense talent, Messi acknowledged that it was time for new players to take the Argentine team's place.