Lionel Messi said on Monday he's retiring from playing for Argentina after leading it to a second successive World Cup final in July and shortly after his father passed away.
"It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul, but I understand that it is the right time," Messi, 39, wrote on Instagram.
Thanking his family for standing by him in this "beautiful" but "difficult" journey, Messi said he "loves, loved and will always love" being in the national team, but that time to depart has come.
"Vamos Argentina," he wrote.
