Messi said he had already made the decision shortly after Argentina's 2026 World Cup final against Spain, but his father's death later strengthened his resolve to step away from international football.
Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from professional international football, bringing an end to a remarkable 20-year career with the Argentina national team.
The 39-year-old football icon made the announcement in an emotional statement in which he said the decision was painful but necessary, while expressing gratitude to the fans, his family, teammates, coaches and officials who accompanied him throughout his journey with the national team.
Messi said he had already made the decision shortly after Argentina's 2026 World Cup final against Spain, but his father's death later strengthened his resolve to step away from international football.
“After all this time since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to tell everyone that I’m retiring from the national team…
