After a 21-year career with Argentina, Lionel Messi has confirmed his retirement from international competition.

Lionel Messi, the 39-year-old Argentina soccer star, has announced his retirement from international play. The forward, who currently competes for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, shared the decision on his Instagram account, marking the end of a 21-year tenure with the national team that included a 2022 World Cup title.

Career Achievements and Statistics

Messi concludes his international career with 207 appearances for Argentina and a record 125 goals, making him the nation's all-time leading scorer. Throughout his career, he played in a record-tying six World Cups. His international honors include winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and consecutive Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024. He also led Argentina to the final of the 2026 World Cup, where the team finished as runners-up following a 1-0 loss to Spain.

Decision and Personal Context

In his announcement, Messi stated that while the decision was painful, he felt it was the right time to step down to allow talented young players to take their place. He noted that he wrote his retirement letter on July 21, two days after the 2026 World Cup final. He delayed the public announcement due to the health issues and subsequent death of his father, Jorge Messi. Messi emphasized that he had given everything to the national team throughout his career, both before and during the years in which the team secured major trophies.