Lionel Messi retires from Argentina after 20 years

Lionel Messi announced his retirement from the Argentine national team on Monday, bringing the curtain down on a 20-year international career that included 125 goals and 207 appearances — both records for the Albiceleste.

The 39-year-old shared the news through a handwritten letter posted to Instagram Meta Platforms, Inc. ↘ 1.64%, revealing he had written the note on July 21, just two days after Argentina's 1-0 loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.sports.yahoo+1

"After all this time since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to tell everyone that I'm retiring from the national team," Messi wrote. "It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep inside, but I understand that this is the right moment."northjersey

A Father's Loss

Messi waited more than five weeks to share the letter publicly, a delay shaped by personal tragedy. His father and longtime agent, Jorge Messi, died on August 8 at the age of 68 in Rosario, Argentina, after battling an illness. At the bottom of his handwritten note, Messi added: "In light of what happened with my dad, I am more certain than ever."nypost

The elder Messi had been a constant presence throughout his son's career, serving as his representative for years and famously holding Messi's Best Player trophy after the 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar.nypost

Final Chapter at MetLife

Messi's last match in Argentina's colors came in the World Cup Final on July 19, where Spain's defense held the defending champions without a shot on target in a 1-0 defeat decided by a Ferran Torres goal in the 106th minute of extra time. Despite the result, Messi finished the tournament with eight goals and four assists, and became one of only two players — alongside Cafú — to appear in three World Cup finals.cubaheadlines

Argentina head coach Lionel Scaloni praised Messi as "the greatest footballer the world has ever seen," calling his run to a World Cup final at age 39 "incredible."cubaheadlines

A Legacy Sealed

This is not the first time Messi has stepped away from international duty. He briefly retired in 2016 after a Copa América Centenario final loss to Chile before reversing that decision. But the tone of Monday's announcement — and the personal circumstances surrounding it — suggest this farewell is permanent.cubaheadlines

Under Messi's leadership, Argentina won the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and the 2024 Copa América. The Inter Miami forward closed his letter with a final message to Argentine fans: "I leave with peace and pride, knowing that I, together with my teammates, have given you unforgettable moments. I love you all!"cubaheadlines