Lionel Messi has brought the curtain down on his glittering international career, announcing his retirement from Argentina duty seven weeks after suffering World Cup final heartbreak against Spain.
The 39-year-old confirmed the decision in a handwritten letter posted to Instagram on Monday, revealing he had actually penned the note on 21 July, just two days after Argentina's 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the World Cup final in the United States, settled by a Ferran Torres goal. Messi delayed making the announcement public, but said the death of his father, Jorge, on 8 August at the age of 68 following a long illness, strengthened his resolve.
"After the time that has passed since the final, and after giving it a lot of thought, I want to let everyone know that I am retiring from the national team," Messi wrote. "It was a decision that hurt – and still hurts deep down – but I understand that the time has come."
He insisted his commitment to the shirt never wavered across two decades. "I swear to you that I always gave it my all – not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too; I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football," he said. "Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply. I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the national team. I've given everything I had; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming up who deserve to be here."
Messi departs as Argentina's all-time leading appearance maker and top scorer, having made 207 appearances and scored 125 goals since his 2005 debut – a chaotic introduction that saw him sent off less than a minute after coming on as a substitute against Hungary for elbowing Vilmos Vanczak. Only Cristiano Ronaldo, with 146, has scored more international goals among men's players, while only Ronaldo has more caps.
The crowning achievement of Messi's international career came in Qatar in 2022, when he captained Argentina to a third World Cup title, ending a long-awaited triumph with a dramatic win over France. He also lifted the Copa America in 2021 and 2024, and led his country to the 2014 World Cup final, where they lost to Germany. This summer, Messi scored eight goals and provided four assists as Argentina reached the final again, memorably inspiring wins over Cape Verde, Egypt and England before falling to Spain.
His relationship with the national team was not always straightforward. Messi first announced his international retirement in 2016, at age 29, after Argentina lost to Chile on penalties in the Copa America final – a fourth defeat in a major final. He was persuaded to reverse that decision and went on to finally deliver silverware, with the breakthrough coming at the 2021 Copa America in Brazil.
Messi thanked supporters directly in his statement. "Thank you for all the affection over these past 20 years. I will miss hearing you from the pitch so much," he wrote. "Now I'll be just one of you, cheering and supporting from the outside... I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you – alongside my team-mates – moments we once only dreamed of. I love you!"
The Argentina national team responded on social media, writing: "Eternal thanks, Leo. We'll love you until the end of our days."
Messi's club career continues unaffected. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner remains with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, where his contract runs through 2028, and he scored four goals in a 7-1 win over Montreal shortly before announcing his international retirement. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Sport, South American football writer Tim Vickery suggested the emotional toll of his father's death and the scale of the World Cup final defeat likely hastened Messi's decision, while suggesting Inter Miami is probably where his playing days will conclude.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport, The Independent, The Guardian, and The Standard.