Loss That Made Lionel Messi Walk Away From Argentina National Team
Messi announced Monday that he is retiring from Argentina's national team, ending an international career that began in 2005.
Lionel Messi has decided to retire from Argentina's national team following their loss to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on July 19. In a handwritten statement on his Instagram account, Messi revealed this decision, which came days after the heartbreaking defeat. The 39-year-old cited his father Jorge's recent passing as a contributing factor, stating that he was "even more convinced than before" about his retirement.
Messi's international career, which began in 2005, was marked by numerous achievements, including being Argentina's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, with 125 goals in 207 appearances. He also won the FIFA World Cup in 2022 and held the record for the most Ballons d'Or wins with eight. Messi's decision to step away from international soccer ends a career that saw him play for three clubs and two decades, most notably finishing his Barcelona chapter with 10 La Liga and four Champions League titles.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- Lionel Messi’s Retirement From Soccer Sparks Heartbreak Across Argentina nytimes.com
- Argentina star Lionel Messi retires from international soccer with World Cup title and 125 goals mainichi.jp
- Messi Retires From the National Team: Who Will Replace Him? forbes.com
- Lionel Messi—Soccer Legend And Billionaire—Retires From Argentina National Team sports.yahoo.com
- Lionel Messi Is Retiring From International Soccer — Here’s Where to Buy His Argentina Jersey Online rollingstone.com
