Lionel Messi announces retirement from international football with Argentina

Lionel Messi announced his international retirement on 31 August 2026. In a message posted on his social media accounts, the Argentine player said he would no longer wear the Albiceleste shirt, bringing an end to a 20-year journey with the national team.

The player said he wrote his message on 21 July, two days after the 2026 World Cup final. He said that events since then, including what happened to his father, without providing further details, had reinforced his decision.

A painful decision

Lionel Messi said the decision remained painful, but that he believed the time had come to step aside. He said he had given everything to Argentina and felt he had nothing more to offer, as younger players must now take their place in the national team.

In his message, he thanked supporters for the affection they showed him over those two decades. He also stressed his enduring attachment to the Argentina national team, despite bringing this chapter of his career to a close.

A career marked by titles

With Argentina, Messi initially endured defeats in finals, notably at the 2014 World Cup and the Copa America. He then won the 2022 World Cup as well as the last two editions of the Copa America.

He leaves the national team as its all-time leading scorer, with 125 goals in 227 appearances. His final major international campaign ended with a World Cup final in 2026.