Lionel Messi retires from Argentina duty after historic international career

Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an extraordinary Argentina career spanning more than two decades to an end.

The 39-year-old confirmed his decision on Monday in a message posted on Instagram, saying he understood that the time had come to close the chapter despite the pain of stepping away.

Messi leaves the national team as Argentina's record appearance holder and leading goalscorer, having scored 125 goals in 207 matches.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner endured years of frustration with Argentina before ultimately becoming one of the most successful players in the country's history.

"It was a decision that hurt - and still hurts deep down - but I understand that the time has come," Messi wrote.

He said he had always given everything for Argentina, including during the difficult years before the team's run of major international success.

"I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football," he said.

Messi's international career included some of the most painful defeats in Argentine football, including the 2014 World Cup final against Germany and back-to-back Copa America final losses.

Those disappointments eventually gave way to an extraordinary period of success.

Messi won his first major international trophy when Argentina defeated Brazil in the 2021 Copa America final. A year later, he captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar, defeating France on penalties after a thrilling final.

He added another Copa America title in 2024 before leading Argentina into the 2026 World Cup, his sixth appearance at the tournament.

The team's 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the 2026 final ended hopes of a fairytale farewell for Messi, but it did little to diminish his standing as one of football's greatest players.

Messi made his Argentina debut in 2005 and gradually established himself as a national icon, eventually emerging from the shadow of Diego Maradona, the captain of Argentina's 1986 World Cup-winning side.

His career with the national team ultimately delivered the trophies that had once seemed beyond reach and cemented his place among the defining figures in Argentine football history.

"I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you - alongside my teammates - moments we once only dreamed of," Messi said.

Messi's decision also follows the death of his father, Jorge Messi, in August. Shortly afterwards, the footballer said he had serious doubts about continuing to play football, in any capacity, for much longer.

At club level, Messi continues to play for Major League Soccer side Inter Miami, where his current contract runs through the end of the 2028 season.

After years of heartbreak, criticism and near misses, Messi departs the international stage as a World Cup winner, two-time Copa America champion and Argentina's most prolific player.

His retirement closes one of the longest and most remarkable chapters in the history of the national team.