Lionel Messi retires from international football at 39

Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, bringing the curtain down on an extraordinary Argentina career that produced a World Cup triumph, two Copa America titles and a collection of national records.

The 39-year-old confirmed his decision on Monday, saying the time had come to close the international chapter of his career. Messi said the decision had been painful but that he believed it was the right moment to step away from Argentina.

“It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul but I understand that it is the right time,” Messi wrote.

The announcement comes weeks after Argentina reached the 2026 World Cup final, where they were beaten 1-0 by Spain. The defeat denied Messi the chance to finish his international career with a second World Cup triumph.

Despite that disappointment, his Argentina legacy remains unprecedented.

Argentina's record goalscorer and appearance holder

Messi leaves the national team as Argentina's most-capped player and leading goalscorer. He made 207 appearances for Argentina and scored 125 goals, establishing himself as the central figure of the country's golden generation.

His international career began in 2005, although his first appearance was one he would probably rather forget. Messi came off the bench in a friendly against Hungary but was sent off less than a minute after entering the field after his arm caught defender Vilmos Vanczak in the face.

What followed was a career that transformed Argentina's football history.

From repeated disappointment to World Cup glory

For much of Messi's early international career, success with Argentina proved frustratingly elusive. He suffered defeat in four major finals between 2014 and 2016, including the 2014 World Cup final against Germany and back-to-back Copa America final losses to Chile.

After Argentina lost the 2016 Copa America final on penalties, Messi briefly announced his retirement from international football. He subsequently reversed that decision, returning to pursue the international honours that had remained missing from his extraordinary résumé.

That persistence eventually paid off.

Argentina won the 2021 Copa America, defeating Brazil in the final at the Maracanã, before Messi finally achieved his biggest international ambition at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Messi's World Cup legacy

Messi played a defining role in Argentina's 2022 World Cup triumph, scoring throughout the tournament and finding the net in the final against France. Argentina eventually prevailed on penalties after a 3-3 draw, giving Messi the World Cup trophy that had eluded him for so long.

He continued with Argentina beyond Qatar and led the team to another World Cup final in 2026. However, Spain edged Argentina 1-0 in the final, ending Messi's final World Cup campaign without another title.

Messi finishes his World Cup career with 21 goals, making him one of the competition's most prolific scorers.

Messi's decision comes after family loss

The retirement announcement also follows a difficult period away from football. Messi's father, Jorge Messi, died in August aged 68 after a long illness. The Argentina captain had previously acknowledged uncertainty about how much longer he wanted to continue playing.

He subsequently revealed that he had written his retirement message on 21 July, two days after Argentina's defeat by Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. Messi said the loss of his father had strengthened his belief that the time had come to close the chapter.

A remarkable international résumé

Messi departs Argentina having won:

• 2022 FIFA World Cup
• 2021 Copa America
• 2024 Copa America
• 2022 Finalissima

His individual records are equally significant. At 125 goals, he is Argentina's all-time leading scorer, while his 207 appearances make him the country's most-capped player.

He is also among the leading scorers in international football history, although Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo remains ahead of him. Messi's 21 World Cup goals place him second on the all-time men's World Cup scoring list behind Kylian Mbappé.

What comes next for Messi?

Messi's retirement applies to international football and does not mean an immediate end to his club career. The Argentine remains under contract with Inter Miami, with his current deal running through the end of the 2028 MLS season.

That leaves the door open for Messi to continue playing at club level even as his Argentina career comes to an end. For Argentina, however, a defining era is now officially closing.

The player who carried the weight of a nation's expectations for more than two decades leaves behind a record that will be extremely difficult to match — and a legacy secured not only by his goals and individual brilliance, but by finally delivering Argentina the World Cup trophy he had spent much of his career chasing.

SportsLigue