Lionel Messi retires from Argentina national team at 39

Abi Sarabia M., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 01, 2026

Photo courtesy: Leomessi Instagram Page

Football legend Lionel Messi has officially retired from international football at the age of 39, ending a remarkable career of more than two decades with the Argentina national team.

Messi announced his decision on Monday, August 31, through an Instagram post featuring handwritten pages in which he reflected on his journey with Argentina and explained why he believed it was time to step away.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner said the decision was painful but that he understood the time had come to close this chapter of his career.

Messi said he had given everything he could to the national team and believed it was also time to make way for a new generation of Argentine players. He thanked his family, coaches, teammates and supporters who had accompanied him throughout his international career.

The Argentine captain revealed that he originally wrote his farewell message on July 21, two days after Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on July 19.

He said he became even more certain about his decision following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, who passed away in Rosario, Argentina on August 8 at the age of 68.

Messi’s retirement brings an end to one of the most decorated international careers in football history.

He made his senior Argentina debut in 2005 and went on to become the country’s all-time leader in both appearances and goals, finishing with 207 caps and 125 goals.

His greatest international triumph came in 2022, when he captained Argentina to the FIFA World Cup title in Qatar.

Messi also helped Argentina win the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles, as well as the 2022 Finalissima. Earlier in his career, he won an Olympic gold medal with Argentina at the 2008 Beijing Games and the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2005.

His final appearance for Argentina came in the 2026 World Cup final, where defending champion Argentina fell 1-0 to Spain.

While Messi is retiring from international football, he remains under contract with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami through the 2028 season.