Lionel Messi has not officially declared his retirement from the Argentina national team, following a heartbreaking 1-0 extra-time defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. Speculation about his retirement surged due to emotional post-match reactions, an AFA tribute video, and Messi wearing boots inscribed with “El Ultimo Tango.”
Messi scored 8 goals during the 2026 tournament. His career with the Albiceleste includes over 120 goals in more than 200 appearances, a 2022 World Cup title, and a 2021 Copa América trophy.
The retirement that almost happened a decade ago
On June 26, 2016, after losing the Copa América Centenario final to Chile on penalties, a 29-year-old Messi announced he was done with international football. He returned weeks later. Everything that followed — the 2021 Copa América triumph in Brazil, the 2022 World Cup victory in Qatar, and the extraordinary 2026 run — happened because Messi changed his mind.
What comes next
