Lionel Messi Retires From International Football After 20 Years of Stardom

​Lionel Messi, the iconic Argentine forward, has officially stepped away from international football, closing out a remarkable career with his national team.

​The 39-year-old Inter Miami star shared his decision on social media on Monday, August 31. In his announcement, Messi revealed that he originally drafted his retirement message on July 21 just two days following Argentina's 1-0 loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.

​His decision comes during a deeply personal period of mourning. On August 8, Messi lost his father, Jorge Messi, who passed away in Rosario at age 68 after a prolonged illness. Jorge played a foundational role throughout his son's career, serving as both his primary advisor and longtime manager.

"After all this time that has passed since the final, having thought about it a lot, I want to let everyone know that I am retiring from the national team," Messi stated. "It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul, but I understand that this is the moment. I swear I always gave everything not just in these last years when everything was won, but before that too and I always fought and gave my all for this shirt, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football."

Messi departs as the defining figure of Argentine football, holding national records for both appearances (207) and goals (125). On the global stage, his 21 World Cup goals place him second on the all-time tournament scoring list, sitting just one behind France's Kylian Mbappé (22).

​Concluding his message, Messi expressed gratitude to the fans:

"Thank you for all the love over these 20 years. I will really miss hearing you from the inside. Now I will be one of you, cheering and supporting from the outside always in good times and bad, and especially in the bad."

Messi leaves behind an unparalleled international legacy. As captain, he led Argentina to victory at the 2022 World Cup, back-to-back Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, and a runner-up finish at the 2026 World Cup.