Lionel Messi announces retirement from international football

Argentina football icon Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football. The 39-year-old, widely regarded as the sport's greatest player, captained the national team to World Cup glory in 2022, reclaiming the title for Argentina after a 36-year drought. However, their bid to win the 2026 World Cup ended in heartbreak when they lost to Spain in the final.

Despite his age, Messi was the tournament's second top scorer with eight goals, narrowly behind France's Kylian Mbappe. He is tied for second place in the World Cup's all-time goal scoring chart, just one goal behind Mbappe, who surpassed Germany's Miroslav Klose's record during the 2022 tournament. Messi's decision to retire from international football brought tears to his eyes, but he understands it is the right time.

He reiterated his commitment to bring joy to Argentine fans and make them proud through football. Messi holds the record for the most appearances (207) and goals (125) for Argentina. His club career continues at Inter Miami, where he signed in 2023 after leaving Paris Saint-Germain following his father's death in August. While he expressed serious doubts about playing for much longer, Messi remains deeply proud of his international career and leaves Argentina with a sense of peace and pride.