Lionel Messi Retires From Argentina After Two Decades

Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, bringing to an end a 20-year career with Argentina that included the 2022 World Cup and two Copa America titles.

The 39-year-old confirmed the decision on Monday in a post on his Instagram account, sharing a photograph of a handwritten letter in Spanish. He said the choice had been a painful one but that he believed the moment had arrived.

A Letter Written in July

Messi revealed in a footnote that he had written the letter on 21 July, two days after Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain, but had held it back.

His father and long-time agent, Jorge Messi, died on 8 August at a hospital in Rosario at the age of 68. In the note, Messi said his father's death had left him more certain of the decision than before.

Argentina lost the final 1-0 after extra time in front of more than 80,000 spectators in New Jersey. Messi struggled to make a decisive impact on the match.

The Numbers and the Trophies

Messi finishes as Argentina's all-time leading scorer with 125 goals and 68 assists in 207 appearances. He played at six World Cups, equalling the record for the most by any player.

His international career was defined for years by near misses. He lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany and Copa America finals in 2007, 2015 and 2016. The last of those, decided on penalties against Chile, prompted him to announce his international retirement on the spot in an emotional interview. He reversed that decision within weeks.

The turnaround came in 2021, when he captained Argentina to the Copa America title and ended a 28-year wait for a major trophy. The World Cup followed in Qatar in 2022, Argentina's third and their first in 36 years, and a second Copa America arrived in 2024.

He also briefly held the record as the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history, reaching 21 goals during this summer's tournament before Kylian Mbappe overtook him with 22.

Reaction

The announcement drew responses from across the sport and beyond. FIFA president Gianni Infantino praised a career he said had inspired millions and reshaped the game. The Argentine Football Association thanked Messi for representing the country, expressing their eternal gratitude for uniting the country.

Argentina's president, Javier Milei, posted a short tribute on Instagram. Messi's wife, Antonela Roccuzzo, wrote that she had watched him persist through the years when things did not work out and had been fortunate to see him fulfil his ambitions.

In his own message, Messi said he was leaving with pride at having shared moments with teammates that they had only previously imagined, and thanked supporters for two decades of affection.

Club Career Continues

The retirement applies only to international football. Messi will continue playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.

His decision leaves Argentina to plan for the next cycle without the player who has been central to the national team since making his debut as a teenager in 2005.