Lionel Messi announces retirement from international football

Lionel Messi, the revered footballer, has made an announcement regarding his retirement from international football. At the age of 39, Messi, an Argentine legend, achieved a major milestone by leading his team to victory in the 2022 World Cup held in Qatar. This marked the nation's first World Cup win since 1986. However, Messi's journey in international football did not end on a high note as Argentina's performance in the 2026 World Cup was disappointing, resulting in a loss to Spain in the final.

Despite his age, Messi was the second-highest scorer of the 2026 World Cup with eight goals, just behind France's Kylian Mbappe who scored ten goals. Messi held the second spot in the World Cup's all-time goalscorer list, just one goal behind Mbappe. Both players surpassed Germany's Miroslav Klose's record of 16 goals during the tournament in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

In an emotional Instagram post, Messi expressed that the decision to retire from international football hurt deeply. However, he understood it was the right time to step back. Messi had given his all to Argentina, aiming to bring joy and pride to Argentine fans through his performances on the field and stating that he would leave with peace of mind and pride. The Argentine captain also revealed that he penned his international retirement message two days after Argentina's defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.

Messi, with 207 appearances for Argentina and 125 goals, is Argentina's most capped player. He also holds the record for the most caps in the history of international football. With Messi as captain, Argentina secured the Copa America in 2021 and 2024. Following Messi's retirement, Messi will continue his club career at Inter Miami, where he currently has a contract until the end of the 2028 MLS season.

However, he expressed serious doubts about extending his playing career beyond this point in light of his father's death in August. Messi's professional football journey began at Barcelona, where he spent 15 years winning multiple titles including the UEFA Champions League four times and the Spanish title ten times. Despite Barcelona's financial constraints, Messi moved to Paris Saint-Germain for two years, winning two league titles before eventually moving to Inter Miami.