Lionel Messi announced his retirement from the Argentina national team on Monday, ending a 19-season international career that made him the country's all-time leading goal scorer and the highest-scoring man in South American soccer history.
"After the time that passed since the final, thinking about it a lot, I want to communicate to everyone that I am retiring from the national team," Messi wrote in Spanish, in a message shared on Instagram. "It was a decision that hurt and hurts my soul, but I understand that this is the moment."
Messi last played for Argentina at the 2026 World Cup, where Argentina lost in the finals to Spain, 2-1, in extra time in front of more than 70,000 fans in New Jersey. According to ABC News, Messi first wrote his goodbye message on July 21, two days after that final. He held off on publishing it until Monday.
Less than one month after the final, on August 8, Messi's father, Jorge, died. Messi said that loss reinforced his decision.
"I wrote these words on July 21, two days after the final. Today after my dad, I'm more convinced than before," Messi wrote.
In his announcement, written on notebook pages photographed and shared on Instagram, Messi reflected on his two decades representing Argentina. He helped lead the country to a World Cup win over France in 2022, its first World Cup title in over 30 years.
"I swear to you that I always gave everything, not only the last few years where everything was won, but also before and I always fought and left everything for this shirt, to give them joy and make them feel proud to be Argentines through football," he wrote.
Messi thanked coaches, family members, and the fans who followed him throughout his career.
"Thank you for all the love of these 20 years. I am going to miss hearing you from the inside very much. Now I am going to be one of you, always encouraging and supporting from the outside (in good times and bad, much more)," he wrote.
He closed the message with: "Thank you God for making me Argentine. Let's go Argentina!"
Messi, a father of three sons, retires as Argentina's captain. He continues to play professional soccer as a forward for Major League Soccer club Inter Miami CF, where he has played since 2023. He is 39 years old.
