Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers in history, announced his retirement from international football on Monday, ending a 21-year career with the Argentine national team. The 39-year-old shared a handwritten letter on Instagram, dated 21 July — two days after Argentina's defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final — saying the decision "hurt and still hurts deep in my soul" but that "the time has come." He added: "I gave everything I had; I have nothing more left to give."

Messi leaves as Argentina's all-time leading scorer, having netted 125 goals in 207 appearances — second only to Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (146) among all international goalscorers. His trophy haul with the national side was extraordinary: the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and the 2024 Copa América, alongside an Under-20 World Cup in 2005 and Olympic gold in 2008. He also experienced bitter defeats, losing five major finals including the 2014 World Cup and, most recently, the 2026 final against Spain, played in New Jersey, where he scored eight goals and provided four assists throughout the tournament.

The retirement announcement came weeks after a personal tragedy. Messi's father, Jorge, who had long served as his agent and a central figure in his career, died on 8 August aged 68 following a long illness. Messi had previously said he had "serious doubts" about continuing in football at all following the loss. In his Instagram post he addressed the grief directly, writing: "After what happened with my father, I am more convinced than ever" that the time had come to step away from international duty. This is not the first time Messi has retired from Argentina — he did so in 2016 after a Copa América final penalty shootout defeat to Chile, only to reverse that decision months later after being persuaded to return.

Messi's club career will continue, at least for now. He remains under contract with Inter Miami, the Major League Soccer club based in Florida, until the end of the 2028 season, though he has not ruled out stepping away sooner. Speculation persists about whether he might one day return to Newell's Old Boys, the club in his home city of Rosario, Argentina, where he first developed as a player — though analysts note that concerns about security in the city and the level of football make such a move uncertain.

For Argentina, the retirement closes a defining era. The national team now faces a transitional period, further complicated by significant FIFA disciplinary bans handed to several players following confrontations at the end of the World Cup final. Messi himself signed off with characteristic warmth: "Thank you for all the love over these past twenty years. Now I'll be one of you, always cheering from the sidelines. I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you moments we could only have dreamed of."