Inframe News – Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 39, ending his 21-year career with Argentina. The decision was announced on Monday, August 31, through a statement posted on his social media accounts. Messi leaves the national team as its all-time leading scorer and most-capped player.
Messi played 207 matches for Argentina and scored 125 goals during his international career. He made his senior debut in August 2005 in a friendly against Hungary at the age of 18. More than two decades later, he finishes his Argentina career with six World Cup appearances.
The announcement came seven weeks after Argentina lost the 2026 World Cup final to Spain. Argentina were beaten 1-0 after extra time in the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Messi had hoped to finish his international career by winning another World Cup.
Messi said he had actually written his retirement message on July 21, two days after the World Cup final. He waited before publishing it, while his father, Jorge Messi, was dealing with serious health problems. Jorge Messi died in Rosario on August 8.
The Argentina captain leaves after finally ending years of disappointment with the national team. He lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany and suffered defeats in the 2015 and 2016 Copa América finals. In 2016, Messi briefly announced his retirement from international football after Argentina lost another Copa América final to Chile.
Messi eventually returned to Argentina duty and helped deliver the trophies that had previously eluded him. He won the Copa América in 2021 before leading Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar. He then added another Copa América championship in 2024.
The 2022 World Cup became the defining tournament of Messi’s international career. He scored seven goals in Qatar and scored twice in the final against France before Argentina won the match on penalties. Messi was also named the tournament’s best player.
Messi returned for what became his sixth and final World Cup in 2026. Argentina reached another final after beating England in the semifinals, but Spain secured the championship with a 1-0 extra-time victory. Messi ended the tournament with eight goals, while Kylian Mbappé finished one goal ahead of him in the scoring race.
His international trophy collection also includes the 2005 FIFA Under-20 World Cup and the Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games. With the senior team, he won the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles, the 2022 Finalissima and the 2022 World Cup. He also reached three World Cup finals during his career.
Messi’s retirement leaves Cristiano Ronaldo as the only active men’s international player with more goals. Ronaldo has scored 146 goals for Portugal, compared with Messi’s 125 for Argentina. Messi remains Argentina’s record holder for appearances and goals.
Argentina supporters began paying tribute almost immediately after the announcement. Murals depicting Messi were photographed around Buenos Aires, while public spaces were illuminated in Argentina’s blue and white colors. The Argentine Football Association is also planning a farewell match to recognize his international career.
Messi will continue playing at club level with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. His MLS contract currently runs through the end of the 2028 season. His departure from Argentina therefore ends his international career rather than his professional playing career.
