MANILA – Lionel Messi has called time on his storied Argentina career, walking away as the national team’s all-time leading scorer, most-capped player and the captain who finally delivered the World Cup after years of international heartbreak.
The 39-year-old superstar officially announced his retirement from international football Monday, ending a two-decade run highlighted by the 2022 FIFA World Cup crown and back-to-back Copa America titles.
Messi confirmed his decision through a social media post, saying he had reached the point where he could no longer give what was required to represent Argentina.
“I am retiring from the Argentina national team,” Messi wrote. “It was a decision that hurt –and still hurts deep down — but I understand that the time has come.”
The Inter Miami star said stepping away was painful but acknowledged that Argentina’s emerging generation deserved the opportunity to carry the national team forward.
“I’ve given everything I had; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming up who deserve to be here,” he said.
Messi retires with 124 goals in 203 appearances for Argentina, leaving him as the country’s record scorer and most-capped player. He is also the highest-scoring player in South American international football.
The crowning moment of his international career came in Qatar in 2022, when Messi captained Argentina to the FIFA World Cup championship and ended the country’s 36-year wait for football’s biggest prize.
The World Cup triumph capped a dramatic reversal of fortunes for Messi, whose international career had long been shadowed by questions over his inability to replicate his club success with Argentina.
After the national team endured a 28-year major trophy drought, Messi helped Argentina capture the 2021 Copa America before leading the squad to World Cup glory the following year. Argentina then successfully defended its continental crown in 2024.
Those triumphs followed years of frustration in which Messi led Argentina to three consecutive major finals without winning a championship.
He even briefly retired from international football in 2016 following another painful defeat before reversing his decision and eventually completing his quest for the sport’s biggest prize.
Messi also thanked his teammates, coaches, officials, family and supporters who accompanied him throughout his international career.
“Now I’ll be just one of you, cheering and supporting from the outside,” he wrote.
Messi revealed that he had written his retirement statement on July 21, two days after the most recent final, but said the death of his father, Jorge Messi, on Aug. 8 further strengthened his decision to step away.
“I am even more convinced than before,” Messi added.
Messi thus closes his Argentina chapter with the World Cup secured, multiple continental championships won and virtually every major national-team scoring and appearance record attached to his name.
After two decades carrying Argentina’s colors, he leaves international football having transformed years of heartbreak into the defining triumphs of his legendary career./PN
