“The moment has arrived” – Lionel Messi shares a touching goodbye as he retires from international soccer.
Lionel Messi has announced that he will retire from international football after the 2026 World Cup.
After an amazing 21 years and 207 games playing for Argentina, the football legend has decided to step away from the national team.
At 39 years old, Messi reached one of the highest points in his career when he captained Argentina to win the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. He leaves as Argentina’s top scorer and the player with the most appearances for his country.
Even though there were some tough losses along the way, Messi helped Argentina win two Copa America titles, the 2022 Finalissima, and the 2022 World Cup.
In a heartfelt message, Messi shared that this wasn’t an easy decision and that it still hurts him deeply. He said the 2026 World Cup final was the last time he would wear the Argentina jersey.
He wrote: “This was a decision that has hurt me a lot, but I know the time has come. I’ve always given my best for this jersey, not just recently when we won so much, but throughout my whole career. I fought hard to bring joy to fans and make every Argentine proud.
“Time moves on, and it’s hard to say goodbye to this chapter. I love being part of the national team and always will. I’ve given all I have, and now it’s time for some talented young players to take over.”
Messi also shared that he wrote this message on July 21, just two days after Argentina’s loss to Spain in the World Cup final. After losing his father, Jorge, who passed away at 68 after a long illness, Messi felt even more certain about his choice.
He added, “Thank you all for your love and support over the past 20 years. I’ll miss the energy from the stands when I’m out there. Now, I’ll be just another fan, cheering from the sidelines through the good times and the bad.
“Thanks to my family for always being by my side on this amazing, yet challenging journey. Thanks to all the coaches, teammates, and staff I’ve worked with. I take so many unforgettable memories with me.
“I leave with pride, knowing we shared moments we once only dreamed of. It was incredible to experience this together. I love you all!
“Thank you, God, for making me Argentine. Let’s go, Argentina!”
Messi will keep playing at club level with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.