Lionel Messi hangs up international boots after two decades of magic with Argentina

BUENOS AIRES: Football has reached the end of an era as Lionel Messi officially announced his retirement from international football, drawing the curtain on a breathtaking 20-year stint with the Argentina national football team.

The 39-year-old icon released a poignant personal statement explaining his decision to step aside, coming six weeks after leading his country to the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The emotional departure was further weighted by recent personal tragedy following the passing of his father, Jorge Messi, in early August.

In an emotional tribute posted to his followers, former Argentina national football team captain Lionel Messi wrote: “After all this time since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to tell everyone that I am retiring from the national team. It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep inside, but I understand that this is the right moment. I gave everything I had, and I do not have anything more to give.”

Messi leaves international football as Argentina’s undisputed ruler of records. Across 207 appearances, he bagged a record-shattering 125 goals. Whilst his early international years were plagued by near-misses and heartbreak, the second half of his international career blossomed into pure fairy-tale territory. He captained the nation to back-to-back CONMEBOL Copa América triumphs in 2021 and 2024, capped by the crown jewel of his career, the 2022 FIFA World Cup title in Qatar.

Fans fearing a complete farewell from the pitch can take comfort in knowing the magician is not hanging up his boots entirely. Messi will continue displaying his wizardry at club level for Inter Miami CF, where his current contract runs in Major League Soccer through to the end of 2028.

With the curtain now drawn on his international exploits, the genius from Rosario leaves behind a legacy that transformed Argentine football from decades of nostalgia into modern global dominance.