Lionel Messi declared his retirement from the Argentina national team, bringing the curtain down on a truly memorable and spectacular 21-year-long journey. The 39-year-old footballer officially announced his decision on August 31, 2026, after spending more than two decades starring for Argentina.
Messi leaves the national team as its record appearance-maker and scorer with 207 matches and 125 goals, respectively. His legendary Argentina career featured two Copa America titles (2021 and 2024), a FIFA World Cup in 2022, and another World Cup final in 2026, which he lost to Spain. Messi stated that the decision to retire was not easy, but he realized it was the right time to let younger and energetic players take over. However, his club career with Inter Miami continues.
Lionel Messi’s Reasons for Retiring from Argentina National Team
The 39-year-old footballer decided to bring the curtain down on his Argentina national team career after reaching the peak of his game and collecting all possible honours with the country. Messi acknowledged that “it was not an easy decision” but added that he knew the time was right to step aside and let emerging young stars take over the responsibility. In addition, Messi added that his decision was also driven by the fact that he had the privilege to play alongside many talented young players in Argentina.
Messsi’s Last Match, Senior Competitive Debut and Records
Messi’s last competitive match for Argentina was the 2026 World Cup final, which saw his team lose 1-0 to Spain in extra time. The following are some of the remarkable feats that define Messi’s Argentina national team career:
International debut: 2005
International appearances: 207 (a record)
International goals: 125 (a record)
Club: FC Barcelona (2004-2021), Paris Saint Germain (2021-2023), Inter Miami (2023-present)
2022 FIFA World Cup
2026 FIFA World Cup
Other achievements: 2021 and 2024 Copa America winner, 2022 Finalissima.
Messi’s Road to Redemption and Remarkable Senior International Career
Messi’s path to the top was far from being smooth as he faced multiple heart-wrenching setbacks before finally tasting success in 2022. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner experienced defeat at the 2014 World Cup final and the 2015 and 2016 Copa America finals. Following Argentina’s heartbreaking loss to Chile in the 2016 Copa America final, Messi announced his international retirement. However, he reversed his decision and resumed playing for Argentina in 2017.
Messi finally won a major international trophy for the first time in his career when Argentina conquered Brazil in the 2021 Copa America. Messi then went on to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2022 Finalissima, sealing his status as one of the greatest footballers of all time. He added the 2024 Copa America title to his impressive list of achievements.
The 2022 World Cup was by far the most remarkable achievement of Messi’s legendary Argentina career. The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner led Argentina to the title for the first time in his career after defeating France 3-1 in the penalty shootout following the 3-3 draw in the 2022 FIFA World Cup final.
Messi’s Last Tournament for Argentina – 2026 World Cup
In the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Messi tied the record for the most goals in a single World Cup when he scored 18 goals. According to FIFA, Messi broke the World Cup participation record of 34 matches, having appeared in the 2022 and 2026 World Cups. The 39-year-old Messi played in his final match for Argentina in the 2026 World Cup final, where his team lost 1-0 to Spain in extra time.
Summary
In summary, the greatest footballer of all time ends his 21-year international career on a sour note as he finished as the runner-up in the 2026 World Cup. Here are a few brief highlights of Messi’s remarkable senior international career:
International debut: 2005
International appearances: 207
International goals: 125
Major achievements: 2021 Copa America winner, 2022 FIFA World Cup winner, and 2024 Copa America winner.
Messi’s legendary international career started in 2005 and ended in 2026. It was a journey filled with pain and joy as he overcame multiple setbacks before finally winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup title. In addition, he spent almost six years in the shadows before rising to the sport’s absolute peak. While Messi may have missed the opportunity to finish his international career on the highest note, his club career with Inter Miami will continue.L
