Sports Desk: Lionel Messi has retired from international football after Argentina’s 1-0 defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, ending the legendary forward’s 21-year career with the national team.
The 39-year-old Argentina captain announced his decision on Monday, saying he had reached the right moment to step away from international football despite the emotional difficulty of the decision.
Messi leaves Argentina as the country’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, with 125 international goals in 207 appearances. His remarkable career includes a 2022 FIFA World Cup title, two Copa America championships and eight Ballon d’Or awards.
The Argentina star endured years of heartbreak before turning his international career into a story of redemption. He lost the 2014 World Cup final and suffered consecutive Copa America final defeats before finally winning the 2021 Copa America.
Messi then captained Argentina to the 2022 World Cup trophy in Qatar, defeating France in a dramatic final. Argentina claimed another major title by winning the 2024 Copa America, further strengthening Messi’s legacy.
His sixth and final World Cup campaign ended in disappointment as Spain secured a narrow victory in the final, denying Messi the chance to finish his international career with another world title.
Messi made his Argentina debut in 2005 and initially faced heavy criticism after repeated tournament setbacks. His later achievements, however, transformed his relationship with Argentine supporters and established him alongside the country’s greatest football legends.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain forward also forged an individual legacy beyond comparisons with Diego Maradona, becoming one of the most influential figures in Argentina football history.
Despite retiring from international football, Messi’s club career continues. He remains under contract with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer until the end of the 2028 season.
