Lionel Messi confirms retirement from Argentina national team after father's death

Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from the Argentina national team at the age of 39. The 2022 World Cup-winning captain made the decision two days after Argentina's defeat to Spain in the World Cup final on 19 July, although he waited several weeks before making it public. The death of his father, Jorge Messi, in August only strengthened his belief that his international career had reached its natural end.

• Lionel Messi steps away from Argentina duty with 207 caps and 125 goals, the second-highest appearance total in men's international football.
• He wrote the farewell message two days after the World Cup final loss to Spain, but postponed the announcement for weeks.
• The death of his father Jorge in August, at the age of 68, left him more convinced about retiring.
• Messi captained Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022 and to Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, losing the 2014 final before his era of triumph.

Messi announces Argentina retirement and explains the timing

The Inter Miami forward shared a statement on Instagram in which he explained he had spent time reflecting since the final and wanted everyone to know he was retiring from the national team. He described it as a decision that hurt then and still hurts deep down, but admitted the moment had arrived.

After the time that has passed since the final, and after giving it a lot of thought, I want to let everyone know that I am retiring from the national team. It was a decision that hurt—and still hurts deep down—but I understand that the time has come.

Messi added a postscript saying he wrote the statement on 21 July, two days after the final. The publication came much later, and in closing he acknowledged that losing his father had left him even more convinced that stepping away was the right call.

A 20-year Argentina career and two World Cup finals

Messi made his senior Argentina debut in 2005 at the age of 18 and spent more than two decades representing his country. His 207 caps leave him second on the all-time men's international appearance list, while his 125 goals underline a remarkable level of output across an entire generation.

His first World Cup final ended in heartbreak, with Argentina losing to Germany in extra time at Brazil 2014. Messi had also experienced multiple Copa América final defeats before that, and in 2016 he announced a short-lived international retirement aged 29 following a final loss to Chile.

From first trophy to World Cup glory in Qatar

Messi's return marked the start of Argentina's most successful run in decades. The 2021 Copa América, won against Brazil at the Maracanã, delivered his first major senior international trophy and ended the country's long wait for silverware. A year later came the crowning achievement: the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, secured on penalties against France after one of the most dramatic finals in tournament history.

Argentina then retained continental supremacy with another Copa América title in 2024, a run in which Messi served as captain and undisputed leader. The extra-time defeat to Spain in the last World Cup final ended their hopes of back-to-back world titles, but does little to diminish a legacy that returned Argentina to the summit of the global game.

Messi's final numbers at the World Cup and beyond

The forward finishes his World Cup career as the second-highest scorer in tournament history, behind Kylian Mbappé and ahead of Miroslav Klose, after both players surpassed the German's record during the latest edition. That position frames an individual résumé that includes eight Ballon d'Or awards and an iconic spell at Barcelona.

His club career continues in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami. On Saturday, before the announcement, he scored four goals in a 7-1 win over Montreal, showing that his competitive edge remains sharp even as his international chapter closes.

Reaction to Lionel Messi's Argentina farewell

The announcement has sparked an outpouring of tributes across Argentine and world football. The Argentina national team's official account on X thanked the captain for everything and said they would love him until the end of their days.

In his farewell, Messi thanked the fans for two decades of affection and remembered his family, coaches and teammates along the way. He said he leaves with peace of mind and pride at having delivered moments that were once only dreams, and insisted that from now on he will be one more supporter, cheering and backing the team from the outside through good times and bad.

Frequently asked questions about Messi's Argentina retirement