Lionel Messi Retires From International Football Today
Argentina legend Lionel Messi has confirmed he is stepping away from international football. The 39-year-old said the decision “hurts” but “the time has come.”
Messi captained Argentina to World Cup triumph in Qatar 2022. He bows out as his country’s all-time top scorer with 125 goals and most-capped player with 207 appearances.
In his statement, Messi said he gave everything to the Albiceleste and now has “nothing left to give.”
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“Chapters end, and this one hurts me deeply,” he wrote. “I love, have loved, and will always love playing for the national team. There are great young players coming through who deserve their chance.”
He revealed he drafted the retirement note on July 21, two days after Argentina’s World Cup final loss to Spain. Earlier this month, Messi also spoke about rethinking his future following the death of his father, Jorge, 68, after a long illness.
“After what happened with my dad, I’m even more convinced,” he posted on Instagram on Monday.
Messi will keep playing at club level. He remains with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer on a deal through the end of 2028.
His Argentina journey began in 2005 as a 63rd-minute substitute against Hungary. It was a rough start — a straight red card less than a minute later for an elbow on Vilmos Vanczak. He still went on to win the World Cup and two Copa America titles.
Messi retires with 21 World Cup goals, second only to France’s Kylian Mbappe on 22. His 125 international goals put him second globally behind Cristiano Ronaldo’s 146. He also set a World Cup record with 12 assists, 10 of them in knockout games.
He briefly quit international duty in 2016 after missing a penalty in the Copa America final shootout loss to Chile. That was Argentina’s fourth major final defeat in nine years. He later returned.
At this summer’s World Cup, Messi scored 8 goals and provided 4 assists.
“Thank you for 20 years of love,” he told fans. “I’ll miss hearing you from the pitch. Now I’ll support you from the sidelines. I’m leaving proud of the moments we dreamed of together. I love you!”
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