Argentina captain Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to one of the most decorated careers in the history of the game.
The 39-year-old confirmed his decision on Monday, August 31, 2026, saying the moment had arrived to close the chapter on his career with the national team.
Messi, who led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022, leaves international football as the country’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, with 125 goals in 207 appearances.
In a statement posted on Instagram, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner said he had given everything to Argentina and believed it was now time to step aside for the next generation.
“Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply,” Messi wrote.
“I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the national team.
“I’ve given it my all, I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some really great young players coming through behind me who deserve their chance.”
Messi’s decision comes shortly after Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. Argentina lost 1-0 after extra time in the July 19 final, ending their campaign just short of retaining the world title.
The Inter Miami forward had played a major role in Argentina’s run to the final, scoring eight goals and providing four assists during the tournament.
He also became the second player to feature in three World Cup finals and the oldest outfield player to appear in a World Cup final.
Messi had already hinted at uncertainty over his international future earlier in August following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, aged 68 after a long illness.
He revealed that he had written his retirement message on July 21, two days after the World Cup final, and said his father’s death had strengthened his resolve to step away.
“Today, after what happened with my dad, I’m even more convinced than before,” Messi said.
Messi’s international career included a number of defining achievements. He won the 2008 Olympic gold medal with Argentina before eventually ending the country’s 28-year wait for a major senior trophy by winning the 2021 Copa America.
He followed that success with the 2022 Finalissima and, most significantly, Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph, where he scored twice in the final against France and won the Golden Ball after registering seven goals and three assists.
He later helped Argentina win another Copa America title in 2024 and reached 100 international goals in 2023.
At the 2026 World Cup, Messi added five goals to his tally, briefly becoming the tournament’s all-time leading scorer with 18 goals before France’s Kylian Mbappe surpassed him.
His retirement closes a remarkable international chapter spanning more than two decades, from his senior debut in 2005 to his final appearance in a World Cup final in 2026.
