Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an extraordinary chapter of his career with Argentina to an end.
The 39-year-old Argentina captain, who led his country to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022, has scored 125 goals in 207 appearances. Those numbers make him Argentina’s leading scorer and most-capped player.
Messi explained that the decision was painful but believes the moment has arrived to step away from international football.
In his message, the Argentina legend said he had given everything he could to the national team and now feels he has nothing more to offer. He also pointed towards the emergence of a talented younger generation that deserves an opportunity to represent the country.
Messi revealed that he originally wrote his retirement message on 21 July, two days after Argentina’s defeat by Spain in this summer’s World Cup final.
The decision became even clearer for him following the death of his father, Jorge, who passed away aged 68 after a lengthy illness.
Despite ending his international career, Messi is not yet ready to walk away from football altogether. His club career with Inter Miami is set to continue, with his current contract running until the end of the 2028 season.
Messi’s Remarkable Argentina Career
Messi’s international journey began in 2005 during a friendly against Hungary.
He entered the match as a substitute in the 63rd minute but was sent off less than a minute later after his arm and elbow made contact with Hungary defender Vilmos Vanczak.
That difficult introduction ultimately proved to be only a small moment in what became one of the greatest international careers in football history.
Messi went on to win the World Cup with Argentina and lifted the Copa America twice.
He has also established himself among the most prolific scorers in international and World Cup history.
His 21 World Cup goals rank him second on the all-time list behind France’s Kylian Mbappe, who has 22. Across all international football, Messi’s 125 goals place him second behind Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, who has 146.
His record in major tournaments extends beyond goals.
Messi has registered 12 World Cup assists, with 10 coming during knockout-stage matches. No other player recorded in the available statistics has more than eight World Cup assists overall.
At this summer’s World Cup, Messi contributed eight goals and four assists.
A Painful Decision for Messi
This is not the first time Messi has announced his retirement from international football.
He previously stepped away in 2016 after Argentina lost to Chile in the Copa America final.
Messi had missed his penalty during the shootout, as Argentina suffered another painful defeat in a major final.
That loss came after Argentina had also fallen in the 2014 World Cup final and the 2015 Copa America final, making it a particularly difficult period for the superstar.
Messi eventually reversed his decision and returned to international duty.
This time, however, the circumstances appear different.
The death of his father has clearly affected Messi, while the latest World Cup final defeat also appears to have influenced his thinking about how much longer he could continue at the highest international level.
After more than two decades representing Argentina, Messi believes the time has come to allow the next generation to take centre stage.
Messi Thanks Argentina Supporters
In his farewell message, Messi expressed his gratitude to the supporters who followed him throughout his international career.
He reflected on the extraordinary journey he shared with his team-mates and fans, saying he leaves with a sense of pride at having helped create moments that once seemed impossible.
For supporters, Messi’s departure marks the end of an era.
His career with Argentina included difficult defeats, criticism, disappointment and years of near misses before finally reaching the summit by winning the 2022 World Cup.
That triumph completed one of the few major achievements missing from his career.
Now, after years of pushing back the inevitable, Messi has decided that international football is no longer part of his future.
Could Messi Finish His Career in Argentina?
There has long been speculation that Messi could eventually return to Argentina to play for Newell’s Old Boys, the club he supported and represented as a youngster.
A return would provide a romantic conclusion to his playing career, but there are obstacles.
One consideration would be moving his family back to Rosario, where security concerns and the intense attention surrounding Messi could make life more complicated.
Former Argentina team-mate Angel Di Maria has returned to his boyhood club Rosario Central, showing that such a move is possible.
However, Messi would also have to decide whether the standard of football in Argentina remains attractive enough for him at this stage of his career.
A short return for a handful of appearances could provide a memorable ending, and Messi has previously spoken about the possibility.
For now, though, Inter Miami appears to be the most likely final destination of his club career.
Messi still has a contract with the MLS side until the end of 2028, although he has complete control over when he eventually decides to stop playing.
If he no longer feels motivated to continue until the end of that contract, he could choose to retire earlier.
The End of an Extraordinary International Era
Messi’s retirement closes one of the most remarkable stories in international football.
For Argentina, it means saying goodbye to the player who became their record goalscorer, record appearance holder and World Cup-winning captain.
For supporters around the world, it means the final stages of watching one of football’s greatest talents represent his country.
Messi spent years carrying enormous expectations before finally delivering Argentina’s biggest prize in Qatar.
Now the next generation will have the opportunity to create its own history.
For Inter Miami supporters, however, there is still plenty to look forward to.
They remain among the fortunate fans who will continue watching Messi’s brilliance at club level, with the Argentine superstar set to write the final pages of his extraordinary playing career in MLS.
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