‘I gave everything I had’: Lionel Messi retires from international football
Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from Argentina’s national football team, bringing the curtain down on a remarkable international career that spanned nearly two decades and six FIFA World Cups.
Messi made the announcement in a handwritten letter posted on Instagram, saying he had decided the time was right to step away from international football after Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
“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,” Messi wrote.
“It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep inside, but I understand that this is the right moment.”
‘I gave everything I had’
The 39-year-old said he had always given his all while wearing the Argentina shirt and wanted to leave knowing he had done everything possible for his country.
“I swear I always gave everything, not only in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too,” he wrote.
“I always fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you happiness and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.”
Messi also acknowledged that his international career was reaching its natural conclusion, while pointing to the emergence of a new generation of Argentine players.
“There isn't much time left, and different chapters are coming to an end. This is one that hurts me a lot,” he wrote.
“I love, I loved, and I will always love being part of the national team. I gave everything I had, and I don't have anything more to give. Also, there are great young players coming through who deserve to be here.”
A career that began in 2006
Messi made his senior Argentina debut in 2006 and went on to become one of the most decorated players in international football.
His journey with the national team was initially marked by disappointment, including defeats in major finals.
That changed with Argentina's Copa América triumph in 2021, followed by the crowning achievement of his career — winning the FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022.
Messi subsequently led Argentina to another World Cup final in 2026, where they were beaten by Spain.
Across six World Cup appearances from 2006 to 2026, Messi scored 21 goals in 34 matches, placing him among the tournament's greatest-ever scorers.
Messi's message to Argentina fans
In his retirement note, Messi thanked the supporters who stood by him throughout his 20-year international journey.
“Thank you for all the love during these 20 years. I'm going to miss hearing you from the inside. Now I'll be one of you, always supporting from the outside, in the good times and even more in the bad ones,” he wrote.
He also thanked his family, coaches, teammates and directors who accompanied him throughout his career.
“I leave with peace and pride, knowing that together with my teammates we gave you moments we once dreamed of. It was crazy to experience all of this with you. I love you!”
He signed off with a heartfelt message to his country: “Thank you, God, for making me Argentine. Vamos Argentina!”
Retirement letter written after final
Messi revealed that he had written the retirement letter shortly after Argentina's World Cup final defeat but delayed publishing it following his father's health crisis.
Jorge Messi, the footballer's father, died on August 8 in Rosario, Argentina.
Messi said the events surrounding his father's death had only strengthened his belief that stepping away from international football was the right decision.
“I wrote these words on July 21, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my dad, I'm even more convinced of this decision than before,” he wrote.
Club career continues
Although Messi has retired from international football, his club career is not over.
The Argentine superstar will continue playing for Inter Miami, where he remains under contract until 2028.
His departure from the Argentina national team marks the end of a defining chapter in a career that began with frustration and heartbreak but ultimately delivered the ultimate prize — the World Cup.
Messi leaves international football having cemented his place among the greatest players in the history of the sport.
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