BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football on Monday, ending his 21-year career with Argentina after leading the national team to the 2026 World Cup final and winning the tournament four years earlier.
Messi, 39, said the decision was painful but that he believed it was time for Argentina’s younger players to take over.
“It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul but I understand that it is the right time,” Messi wrote on Instagram.
“I swear I always gave everything, not just in the last few years when we won everything but before that too, and I always fought and gave my all for this shirt,” he added.
Messi led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title in Qatar, where the team defeated France on penalties. Argentina reached the final again this year but lost 1-0 to Spain at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Messi scored eight goals and recorded two assists during Argentina’s run to the 2026 final. He left the field in tears after the defeat and described the loss as “immense.”
In his retirement statement, Messi said Argentina has talented young players ready to continue the national team’s campaign.
“I love, I loved, and I will always love being on the national team,” he wrote. “I gave everything I had, I have nothing more to give, and besides, there are some very talented young players coming up behind me who deserve to be there.”
Messi also addressed his future after the death of his father, Jorge, in August. He previously said he had “serious doubts” about continuing to play football for much longer.
His contract with Inter Miami of Major League Soccer runs through the 2028 season.
Messi made his Argentina debut in 2005 at age 18 and went on to earn 207 international appearances, becoming the country’s all-time leading scorer with 125 goals.
He won two Copa America titles, in 2021 and 2024, in addition to the 2022 World Cup.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised Messi as one of the greatest players in football history and thanked him for bringing joy to millions of fans.
Argentina teammate Angel Di Maria also thanked Messi for choosing to represent Argentina despite having moved to Spain as a teenager.
“We will be forever grateful to you for being Argentinian and for having taken Argentina to the top of the world,” Di Maria said.
“For having chosen to be Argentinian when you could have chosen something else. Thank you for everything.”