Buenos Aires. Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football with Argentina, bringing an end to a 21-year career with the national team that included a World Cup triumph and two Copa América titles.
The 39-year-old Inter Miami forward made the announcement on Monday in an emotional Instagram post, saying the decision was painful but that he believed the time had come to step away.
Messi said he had given everything to Argentina throughout his career and that younger players deserved the opportunity to take his place.
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