Messi's legendary run for Argentina almost never happened after heartbreak

Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from the Argentine national team, marking the end of a two-decade-long international career. The captain of the Albiceleste says he made the decision after the 2026 World Cup final, concluding a significant phase of his career. Messi communicated his decision via an Instagram post, explaining he had been reflecting on his future since that World Cup final.

The Argentine admits the decision was not easy, and leaving the national team brings him pain in the heart, even though he considers this the right moment to close an important stage of his professional journey. Messi insists that his commitment to Argentina remained throughout his career, both in the years of championships and in the periods preceding them.

He states he gave everything, recalling that his goal was to bring joy to Argentine fans and represent his country through football. In addition to the emotional burden, the player also explains that the generational renewal weighed heavily on his decision. "Me vacié, ya no tengo m�s para dar," he says, adding that younger players with great potential deserve a chance.

Messi considers it the right time for the sporting moment to make space for a new generation and finish his international career. His farewell is also marked by gratitude, as he addresses the fans who have accompanied him for these two decades, acknowledging he will miss the support from the stands. Going forward, Messi says he will occupy the same place as any other fan, encouraging and supporting them from afar.

He also thanks his family for their support during this beautiful but difficult stage, as well as the shared work with coaches, teammates, and officials over all these years. Messi leaves the team, he explains, with the tranquility of having built some of the moments he had always dreamed of with the national team. He closes his message with a statement of belonging: "Gracias Dios por hacerme argentino."

The post includes a final clarification. Messi says he wrote these words on July 21, two days after the final, but decided to make them public later.