Reactions to Argentina's Messi ending international career

Mumbai: Legendary footballer Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, marking the end of a remarkable 21-year career with Argentina. At 39, Messi leaves the international stage after making 207 appearances and scoring 125 goals for his country, both of which are national records.

In an emotional social media post, Messi revealed that he had given the matter a lot of thought since the 2026 World Cup final. He admitted that the decision was painful but understood that the time had come. "I have given everything for the Argentina shirt and will now support the national team as a fan," the captain said.

Messi's international journey began in 2005, making his senior Argentina debut. His career was characterized by remarkable success on the club level, which stood in stark contrast to Argentina's inability to win a major international trophy until recently. After years of heartbreak, Messi finally led Argentina to its first major trophy in 2021 by winning the Copa America.

In 2022, Messi's crowning achievement came as Argentina defeated France in the World Cup final in Qatar. He then helped Argentina retain the Copa America in 2024 before leading the defending champions into another World Cup final in 2026. During the tournament, Messi scored eight goals as Argentina's bid for consecutive world titles ended against Spain.

Apart from his World Cup wins, Messi also won the 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medal. He became the first player to appear at six World Cups and the first to start three World Cup finals. Messi's dazzling dribbling, extraordinary vision, prolific scoring, and ability to decide crucial matches made him the defining footballer of his generation.

Lionel Messi's retirement from international football ends an unforgettable chapter for Argentina, securing his place among the football immortals.