{
  "id": 4815190,
  "title": "Messi retires from Argentina national team after 21 years",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/messi-retires-from-argentina-national-team-after-21-years",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-01T07:43:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Chronicle Ghana",
    "slug": "the-chronicle-ghana",
    "url": "https://thechronicle.com.gh/messi-retires-from-argentina-national-team-after-21-years/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Lionel Messi, at the age of 39, has come to the end of his long career with the Argentine national team. Over the course of two decades, Messi represented Argentina in six World Cups, including the triumphant victory in Qatar 2022 and the runner-up finish in 2026, where they lost to Spain in the final. His professional journey began in 2005 when he made his debut for the Argentine national side in a friendly match against Hungary. On his official Instagram account, Messi expressed his deep sorrow at making this decision, stating that he still struggled with it, but acknowledged that the time had come. He emphasized that he had always given his best, not just in recent years when they achieved success, but throughout his entire career. Messi proudly declared that he had fought and played every ounce of effort for the team jersey, bringing joy and pride to the Argentine people. He concluded his statement by assuring everyone that he left with peace of mind and a sense of pride, having contributed to moments that they had only dreamt of. Following the passing of his father, Jorge, in August, Messi had expressed serious doubts about continuing to play football for an extended period. Messi's contract with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami remains active until the end of the 2028 season.",
  "summary": "Lionel Messi has ended his career as a player for the Argentine national team at 39 years old, after two decades representing the national side. Messi, who played in six World Cups, won the tournament in Qatar 2022 and led Argentina to the final in 2026 losing to Spain. He made his debut for the Argentina national team in 2005 in […] The post Messi retires from Argentina national team after 21…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Six defining moments of Lionel Messi's Argentina career",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/six-defining-moments-of-lionel-messis-argentina-career",
        "published": "2026-09-01T04:15:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Adom Online",
        "title": "Goals, records, tears … Messi’s most iconic moments",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/goals-records-tears-messis-most-iconic-moments",
        "published": "2026-09-01T04:59:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Lionel Messi’s record-breaking Argentina career in numbers",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/lionel-messis-record-breaking-argentina-career-in-numbers",
        "published": "2026-09-01T06:55:09.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Punch",
        "title": "FULL LIST: Messi’s achievements, four unwanted records with Argentina",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/full-list-messis-achievements-four-unwanted-records-with-argentina",
        "published": "2026-09-01T08:38:39.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Mail and Guardian",
        "title": "Lionel Messi: A golden chapter closes on international football",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/lionel-messi-a-golden-chapter-closes-on-international-football",
        "published": "2026-09-01T09:02:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Kareena Kapoor's son heartbroken over Lionel Messi's retirement announcement",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/kareena-kapoors-son-heartbroken-over-lionel-messis-retirement",
        "published": "2026-09-01T10:46:59.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}