Lionel Messi retires from international football
The 39-year-old football icon made the announcement after leading Argentina to a second successive World Cup final in July.
Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, following Argentina's second-straight World Cup final appearance in July. The 39-year-old wrote on Instagram that the decision to end his international career was a deep and painful one, but he believes it is the right time. Messi led his national team to World Cup victory in 2022, defeating France in a penalty shootout in Doha.
However, Argentina suffered a 1-0 loss to Spain in the 2026 final. The decision to quit international football came after the passing of Messi's father, Jorge, in August, which left him seriously questioning whether he would continue playing football in any capacity for much longer. Messi's contract with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami is set to run until the end of the 2028 season.
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