Argentina's forward, Lionel Messi celebrates after winning the 2026 World Cup round of 32 football match between Argentina and Cape Verde at the Miami Stadium in Miami Gardens on July 3, 2026. (Photo: AFP)
Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from the Argentina national team, saying he has “nothing more to give” after a 20-year international career.
The Argentina captain made the announcement in an emotional letter posted on his Instagram reel on Monday, revealing that he had reached the decision shortly after the final and had become even more convinced following the death of his father.
Messi said, “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.”
He admitted the decision was painful but said he believed it was the right time to end his international career.
