{
  "id": 4672415,
  "title": "Lionel Messi retires from international football",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/31/lionel-messi-retires-from-international-football-4672415",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-31T15:31:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2026/08/31/lionel-messi-retires-from-international-football"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In a surprising announcement, Lionel Messi has revealed his decision to retire from international football, marking the end of an illustrious career for the Argentine football icon. The 39-year-old star led Argentina to a second consecutive World Cup final in July, showcasing his unwavering dedication and commitment to the national team. Despite his emotional farewell, Messi emphasized his gratitude for his time in the Argentina jersey, acknowledging that he had always given his all to represent the team. Messi's leadership was instrumental in Argentina's triumph in the 2022 World Cup final, where they triumphed over France in a penalty shootout, securing the prestigious title. However, the departure of his father, Jorge, in August cast a shadow over Messi's future in football, causing him to doubt his continued involvement in the sport. Messi's contract with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami remains in place until the end of the 2028 season, ensuring that his contributions to the club extend beyond his international career.",
  "summary": "The 39-year-old football icon made the announcement after leading Argentina to a second successive World Cup final in July.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}