Lionel Messi has retired from international football, bringing the curtain down on his Argentina career after falling short in the World Cup final in July.
Perhaps the greatest player of all time, Messi had been hoping to lead his side to back-to-back tournament triumphs but suffered a 1-0 defeat to Spain in extra time.
The 39-year-old made 207 appearances for his country, the second most by any men’s international footballer, scoring 125 times across a career that spanned more than two decades.
Messi revealed he decided to retire two days after Argentina’s defeat in the World Cup final, but he delayed announcing his decision due to his father’s health.
Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, passed away in August at the age of 68 after a long illness, after his son had returned to the pitch following the World Cup with his club Inter Miami.
“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,” Messi wrote on Instagram.
“It was a decision that hurt—and still hurts deep down—but I understand that the time has come,” he wrote.
Messi was named player of the tournament after captaining Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022, having also earned the Golden Ball in 2014 following the first of three final appearances.
He finishes his career as the second leading World Cup goalscorer behind Kylian Mbappe after the pair each surpassed Miroslav Klose’s record tally during the tournament.
An eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and Barcelona icon, Messi will continue playing for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
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