By Ghazali Ibrahim
Lionel Messi has retired from international football with Argentina, bringing the curtain down on one of the most decorated careers in the history of the national team.
The 39-year-old forward ends his Argentina career as the country’s record appearance holder, having earned 207 caps and scored 125 goals.
Messi’s international career spanned more than two decades and included several major honours. He led Argentina to victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and helped the team win the Copa América in 2021 and 2024, as well as the 2022 Finalissima.
His decision comes after Argentina’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, which marked his final appearance at the tournament.
Messi had previously indicated that the 2026 World Cup could be his last, with his age and the demands of international football becoming factors in his decision.
In announcing his retirement, Messi acknowledged the emotional weight of ending his time with the national team but said he believed it was the right moment to step aside and allow a new generation of Argentine players to emerge.
His international career was not without disappointment. Messi endured years of criticism after Argentina’s defeats in the 2014 World Cup final and the 2015 and 2016 Copa América finals before eventually ending the trophy drought with the 2021 Copa América triumph.
The World Cup victory in 2022 subsequently cemented his status as an Argentina legend, while his continued success with the national team made him one of the most influential figures in the country’s football history.
Messi is expected to continue his club career with Inter Miami after bringing his Argentina chapter to an end.
