Lionel Messi’s time in an Argentina shirt is over.
The World Cup winner announced his international retirement on Monday.
Messi’s last appearance in an Albiceleste shirt was the 1-0 loss in extra time to Spain in last month’s World Cup Final.
“After the time that has passed since the Final, and after giving it a great deal of thought, I want to announce to everyone that I am retiring from the National Team,” Messi wrote on Instagram. “It was a decision that hurt — and still hurts deeply — but I understand that the time has come. I swear to you that I always gave my all —not just in these recent years when we won everything, but before that too; I always fought and poured everything into this jersey, striving to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.”
Making his senior debut in 2005, Messi would go on to become Argentina’s most-capped player with 207 and its leading goal scorer with 125. He finishes his international career having appeared at six World Cups and seven Copas America. Messi’s Argentina triumphed at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and in a pair of Copas America, in 2021 and 2024.
An eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, Messi claimed the World Cup’s Golden Ball as the tournament’s top player in both 2018 and 2022. He was named Copa America MVP in both 2015 and 2021. Messi was also a member of the Argentina team that won a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
Now in his 23rd professional season, Messi has 18 goals in 19 appearances for Inter Miami in 2026. He is coming off of a four-goal game this weekend in a 7-1 win over CF Montreal.
