Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football with Argentina, bringing an extraordinary 21-year career with the national team to an end.
The 39-year-old confirmed his decision on Monday, August 31, 2026, after Argentina’s 1–0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
Messi leaves the Argentina national team as its all-time leading goalscorer and most-capped player, with 125 goals in 207 appearances.
His international career included three World Cup finals, two Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph in Qatar.
After years of heartbreak with Argentina, Messi eventually delivered the major international trophies that had long eluded him, establishing himself as one of the most influential players in the country’s football history.
Although his international career is now over, Messi will continue playing at club level with Inter Miami.
