Lionel Messi retires from international football

Lionel Messi, the world-renowned football player, announced on Monday that he will retire from international football, ending a stellar career for Argentina. The 39-year-old, an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, made the decision two days after Argentina's World Cup final defeat against Spain in 2026. The news came amidst the recent passing of Messi's father, Jorge.

In his statement, Messi expressed his love for the national team and his gratitude for the joy and pride the jersey brought him. He acknowledged that the time had come and that he had nothing more to give to the team, while also highlighting the emergence of young talent deserving of the opportunity. Messi, who had previously announced his international retirement in 2016 but later reversed his decision, has now played his final international match.

This marks his second retirement from the national team, following a similar announcement after Argentina's loss to Chile in the 2016 Copa America Centenario Final. Despite this, Messi went on to win the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 World Cup, becoming the third Argentinian captain to lead the team to victory in the World Cup.

Messi, considered the greatest football player of all time, will be remembered as Argentina's record highest goalscorer and the player with the most appearances for the national team. He scored 125 goals in 207 appearances.