Argentina captain Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 39, bringing his remarkable 21-year career with the national team to an end.
Messi made the announcement on Monday, August 31, 2026, more than a month after Argentina suffered a painful 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the 106th minute as Spain secured their second men’s World Cup title, denying Argentina the opportunity to successfully defend their crown.
Messi had initially remained undecided about his international future following the final. However, after reflecting on the tournament and his career, the legendary forward has now confirmed that his time with Argentina is over.
In an emotional farewell message, Messi said the decision was difficult but acknowledged that the moment had arrived to step away from the national team.
He said he had always given everything for Argentina and was motivated by the desire to bring happiness and pride to the country’s supporters.
Messi’s retirement marks the end of one of the greatest international careers in football history.
He made his senior Argentina debut in 2005 and went on to lead the country to major honours, including the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima and, most notably, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The World Cup triumph ended years of disappointment for Messi, who had previously lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany and suffered back-to-back Copa América final defeats in 2015 and 2016.
Following Argentina’s Copa América Centenario defeat to Chile in 2016, Messi briefly announced his international retirement before reversing the decision two months later.
His return eventually ushered in the most successful period of his international career.
Messi’s final World Cup appearance in 2026 added further records to his already remarkable legacy. He extended his record number of World Cup appearances to 34 matches and became one of the oldest players ever to feature in a World Cup final.
Despite the disappointment of losing to Spain, Messi leaves the national team having helped transform Argentina’s fortunes and secure some of the biggest trophies in the country’s history.
His retirement from international football, however, does not mean an immediate end to his playing career.
Messi remains an Inter Miami player and continues to feature prominently in Major League Soccer. On August 30, he scored four goals and provided an assist during Inter Miami’s 7-1 victory over CF Montréal, taking his league tally for the season to 18 goals.
The decision also comes shortly after the death of his father, Jorge Messi, who passed away earlier in August at the age of 68.
Jorge played a significant role in Messi’s career and was instrumental in guiding his son from Rosario to global football stardom.
In his farewell message, Messi thanked his family, coaches, teammates, officials and supporters for standing by him throughout his international journey.
He expressed pride in the memories created with his teammates and thanked Argentines for their unwavering support during both the difficult and successful moments.
Messi leaves the Argentina national team as a World Cup winner, a multiple-time Copa América champion and one of the most influential figures in the history of international football.
After more than two decades of wearing Argentina’s famous shirt, the captain is now handing the responsibility to a new generation.
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