MIAMI, Florida — Lionel Messi officially announced his retirement from the Argentina national team on Monday, August 31, 2026. The 39-year-old Argentine superstar made his decision public through an emotional letter shared on social media, bringing an end to a 21-year career with the national team.
In his message, Messi was clear about the reasons behind his decision. “I gave everything I had; I have nothing left to give,” the Argentina captain wrote. He revealed that he initially made the decision on July 21, just two days after losing the 2026 World Cup final to Spain, but ultimately became certain following the recent death of his father, Jorge Messi.
With his international retirement, Messi closes the most successful chapter in the history of Argentine soccer. The Rosario native leaves the national team after winning the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and the 2024 Copa América.
His legacy with Argentina is also reflected in historic numbers that will be difficult to match. After making his final appearance in the 2026 World Cup final, Messi’s official international record stands at:
- Appearances: 207, the most in Argentina’s history.
- Goals: 125, the national team’s all-time scoring record.
- Assists: 68, the most in Argentina’s history.
- Major titles: 4 — 2021 Copa América, 2022 Finalissima, 2022 World Cup and 2024 Copa América.
Messi also played in six World Cups, appearing at every tournament from Germany 2006 through the 2026 edition and breaking several major records in the history of the competition.
His farewell comes after a final World Cup in which Argentina reached the final before falling to Spain. Two days after that defeat, Messi began making the decision that he would ultimately announce publicly on Monday.
Messi Will Continue With Inter Miami
The announcement does not represent a retirement from professional club soccer. Messi will remain an active player for Inter Miami, where he recently delivered another historic performance.
On August 29, the Inter Miami captain scored four goals against Montréal, recording the seventh four-goal game of his career. The performance showed that, despite closing the door on his international career, Messi remains a decisive figure at club level.
An era with the Argentina national team has now come to an end: 21 years, 207 appearances, 125 goals, 68 assists, four major titles and six World Cups.
Lionel Messi leaves La Albiceleste as a world champion and as the most decorated player in the history of Argentina’s national team.
Read the original article in Spanish here.
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