Lionel Messi announced his retirement from the Argentina national team on Monday, closing the book on one of the greatest international careers in soccer history at age 39.
The announcement came in a handwritten Instagram post, roughly six weeks after Argentina’s heartbreaking loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, and just over three weeks after the death of his father and longtime agent, Jorge Messi.
A Letter Written in July, Posted in August
Messi revealed that he actually wrote the retirement message on July 21, two days after the World Cup final, but held off publishing it while his father battled the illness that would claim his life on August 8 at age 68.
In a footnote added later, Messi wrote that recent events had left him “even more convinced than before” that the time had come. “It was a decision that hurt, and still hurts deep down, but I understand that the time has come,” he wrote in the original message.
A Career by the Numbers
Messi’s international career spans 20 years since his first appearance for Argentina. He scored 98 goals and added 38 assists across 142 matches for his country.
He played in six World Cups, reaching the final three times. He finally lifted the trophy in Qatar in 2022, then led Argentina back to the final this year, where they lost 1-0 to Spain in extra time.
Ending a Long Trophy Drought
Before winning the World Cup, Messi played a central role in ending Argentina’s 28-year trophy drought, capturing the 2021 Copa America and defending the title again in 2024.
That 2021 triumph, a 1-0 win over host nation Brazil at the Maracana, marked a turning point. Messi wept on the field afterward, finally a champion in Argentina’s colors after years of near misses.
Not His First Retirement
This is not the first time Messi has walked away from international soccer. He first announced his retirement in 2016, following a penalty shootout loss to Chile in the Copa America final, in an emotional interview delivered on the spot in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
That retirement did not last. Weeks later, after an outpouring of support from fans and a personal appeal, Messi reversed his decision, saying he loved the national jersey and his country too much to walk away for good. This time, those close to the situation say the decision appears final.
Life Goes On at Inter Miami
Messi’s retirement applies only to international soccer. He will continue playing club football for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, where his contract runs through the 2028 season.
In his message, Messi thanked his family and teammates, writing that he leaves with peace of mind and pride over the moments they shared together. He closed by thanking God for making him Argentine and wishing the national team well going forward.
Why It Matters
Messi’s retirement closes one of the most celebrated international careers in the sport’s history, one defined as much by early heartbreak as by the trophies that eventually followed. For a generation of fans who watched him carry Argentina through both disappointment and glory, his decision to step away now, shaped by grief as much as by the game itself, marks a deeply personal end to a two-decade story.
