Argentina football legend Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an extraordinary 21-year career with the national team to an end after 207 appearances.
The 39-year-old, who made his Argentina debut in 2005, leaves the international stage as one of the most decorated players in the country’s history, having led the national team to its greatest successes in recent years.
Messi’s final appearance for Argentina came in this summer’s World Cup final against Spain, where the defending champions suffered defeat after another memorable campaign.
The defeat meant Messi finished his World Cup career with one title and two runners-up medals, having also reached the final in 2014 before losing to Germany.
However, his international legacy is defined by far more than those disappointments.
After years of heartbreak with Argentina, Messi finally lifted a major international trophy when he guided his country to victory at the 2021 Copa América.
He followed that triumph with an even greater achievement a year later, inspiring Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022.
Messi then added another major honour to his collection by helping Argentina win the Copa América again, further cementing his status as one of the greatest players ever to represent the country.
Announcing his decision, Messi admitted that walking away from the national team was an emotional and painful decision, but said he believes the time has come to make room for a new generation.
“It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep down but I understand that the time has come,” Messi said.
“I swear to you that I always gave it my all, not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too. I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.”
Messi said he had already made the decision shortly after Argentina’s World Cup final defeat to Spain, revealing that he wrote his retirement statement on July 21, two days after the match.
“Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply,” he said.
“I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the national team. I’ve given everything I had; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming up who deserve to be here.”
His decision was also influenced by the emotional impact of losing his father, Jorge, who died last month.
Messi had previously admitted that he was uncertain about whether he would continue playing for Argentina and revealed how physically demanding the World Cup final had been for him.
“My legs couldn’t go on any more,” he said after the final. “This time I tried to push myself beyond my physical limits, but I couldn’t.”
Messi’s international career has been remarkable not only for the trophies he won but also for the longevity and consistency he displayed in an Argentina shirt.
He made his debut as a teenager in 2005 and went on to earn a record 207 caps, becoming a central figure in the national team for more than two decades.
His journey was not always smooth.
Before his breakthrough with the senior national team, Messi endured several painful defeats in major finals, including the 2014 World Cup final and consecutive Copa América final losses.
Those disappointments eventually made his later successes even more significant.
The 2021 Copa América triumph ended Argentina’s long wait for a senior international trophy and gave Messi his first major title with the national team.
The 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar then completed the biggest missing piece in his illustrious career.
With his second Copa América title added afterward, Messi leaves Argentina duty having achieved what once appeared beyond his reach.
He will now focus on his club career with Inter Miami, where his current contract runs until 2028.
For Argentina, however, the end of Messi’s international career marks the closing of an extraordinary era, one that began with an immensely talented teenager in 2005 and ended with a World Cup-winning captain who finally delivered the biggest prizes to his country.
After 207 appearances, countless goals, historic victories and years of unforgettable moments, Messi’s Argentina story has reached its final chapter.
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