Messi retires from Argentina after 22 years, two Copa Américas and a World Cup

Lionel Messi has retired from international football, confirming in a personal statement that he will no longer represent Argentina after 22 years, a World Cup title, and 125 goals for his country. The 39-year-old will continue his club career with Inter Miami in MLS.

“After all this time since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to tell everyone that I’m retiring from the national team,” Messi said. “It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep inside, but I understand that this is the right moment.”

The announcement comes just over a month after Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. Messi revealed he had written his initial retirement statement two days after that loss on 21 July, but delayed the announcement following the death of his father, Jorge. “Today, after what happened with my dad, I’m even more convinced of this decision than before,” he said.

Messi leaves the international stage with a record that is almost impossible to contextualise. His 125 goals are the second-most ever scored by a men’s international player, and his 21 World Cup goals rank second in the tournament’s history. In July he became only the second man to appear in three World Cup finals, having previously lifted the trophy in Qatar in 2022 — scoring twice against France in that final and claiming the Golden Ball, making him the first player to win that award twice at a men’s World Cup.

Alongside the 2022 triumph, Messi guided Argentina to two Copa América titles during his international career, completing a collection that had eluded him for much of his prime.

“I swear I always gave everything, not only in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too,” Messi said. “I always fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you happiness and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.”

In closing, Messi acknowledged the next generation waiting in the wings. “There are great young players coming through who deserve to be here,” he wrote. “Thank you for all the love during these 20 years. I’m going to miss hearing you from the inside. Now I’ll be one of you, always supporting from the outside, in the good times and even more in the bad ones.”