Lionel Messi retires from international football aged 39

Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 39, bringing an extraordinary 21-year Argentina career to an emotional end.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner confirmed his decision in a statement on Instagram, revealing that he had initially written the message on July 21, two days after Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.

Messi said the recent death of his father, Jorge Messi, on August 8 had made him “even more convinced” that it was time to step away from international football.

The decision closes one of the most decorated careers in the history of the game.

Messi leaves Argentina as both the country’s most-capped player and its all-time leading goalscorer, having made 207 appearances and scored 125 goals.

His international career began in 2005 and included some of the biggest achievements in Argentine football.

After years of near misses, Messi finally lifted a major senior international trophy when Argentina won the Copa América in 2021. 

He followed that with the Finalissima in 2022 before leading Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar later that year.

Argentina also retained the Copa América in 2024, giving Messi two continental titles.

His international honours additionally include the 2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup and Olympic gold at Beijing 2008.

Messi’s club career has been equally remarkable, particularly his 17-year spell at Barcelona.

He won 10 La Liga titles, seven Copa del Rey trophies, eight Spanish Super Cups, four Champions League titles, three UEFA Super Cups and three FIFA Club World Cups.

He scored 672 goals in 778 appearances for Barcelona and became the club’s greatest goalscorer.

After leaving Barcelona in 2021, Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain, where he won two Ligue 1 titles and the French Trophée des Champions.

He later moved to Inter Miami, helping the club win the 2023 Leagues Cup, the 2024 Supporters’ Shield and the 2025 MLS Cup.

Individually, Messi’s record is unprecedented.

He has won the Ballon d’Or eight times, more than any other player, while also collecting FIFA’s The Best award, European Golden Shoes, Pichichi trophies and numerous player-of-the-year honours.

His career has also been defined by extraordinary records, including scoring 91 goals in 2012 and becoming one of football’s most prolific goalscorers and creators.

At the 2026 World Cup, Messi captained Argentina to the final and scored eight goals during the tournament, further extending his legacy on football’s biggest stage.

Now, after more than two decades representing Argentina, Messi has decided to pass the responsibility to a new generation.

Although his international career is over, his club career continues with Inter Miami.

At 39, the Argentine icon leaves the national team with virtually every major honour available to him — and a legacy that has placed him firmly among football’s all-time greats.