Lionel Messi officially announces retirement from Argentina national team

Lionel Messi, the 39‑year‑old Argentine superstar, has confirmed his retirement from the Argentina national team. The announcement came via an Instagram post in which Messi said he had drafted his farewell shortly after Argentina’s extra‑time victory over Spain on July 21. He noted that the decision was solidified after the death of his father and longtime representative, Jorge Messi. In the post Messi wrote, “After each this clip since the final, and aft reasoning astir it a lot, I privation to archer everyone that I’m retiring from the nationalist team,” and continued, “It was a determination that wounded and inactive hurts heavy inside, but I recognize that this is the close moment. I curse I ever gave everything, not lone successful these past fewer years erstwhile we won everything, but earlier that too. I ever fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you happiness and marque you consciousness arrogant to beryllium Argentine done football.” He added, “I wrote these words connected July 21, 2 days aft the final. Today, aft what happened with my dad, I’m adjacent much convinced of this determination than before.” The statement marks a definitive end to Messi’s international career that began with his senior debut in 2005. Over two decades he endured near‑misses, including the 2014 World Cup final loss and several Copa América disappointments, which prompted a brief international hiatus in 2016. A late‑career resurgence saw him captain La Albiceleste to back‑to‑Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, preceded by the 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar that ended Argentina’s 36‑year wait for the trophy. Messi departs the international arena with 207 caps, 125 goals and an unmatched collection of honors, notably two World Cup Golden Balls. Expressing confidence in the future of the national program, he said, “There isn’t overmuch clip left, and antithetic chapters are coming to an end. This is 1 that hurts maine a lot. I love, I loved, and I volition ever emotion being portion of the nationalist team. I gave everything I had, and I don’t person thing much to give. Also, determination are large young players coming done who merit to beryllium here.” He also thanked supporters, stating, “Thank you for each the emotion during these 20 years. I’m going to miss proceeding you from the inside. Now I’ll be 1 of you, ever supporting from the outside, in the bully times and adjacent much successful the atrocious ones.” Messi concluded his message with gratitude to his family and his football companions: “Thank you to my household for ever being determination and for being with maine passim this beauteous but hard journey,” and, “Thank you to each coach, teammate and manager I had the accidental to stock it with. I instrumentality with maine unforgettable memories and moments. I permission with bid and pride, knowing that unneurotic with my teammates we gave you moments we erstwhile dreamed of. It was brainsick to acquisition each of this with you. I emotion you! Thank you God for making maine Argentine. Vamos Argentina!” Editorial credit: lev radin / Shutterstock.com