MIAMI, September 1 Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football in an Instagram post on Monday. The Inter Miami forward said it “hurts deep in my soul” but that he realises “the time has come.” He made the statement following Argentina’s World Cup final defeat by Spain in July. Messi wrote that he had first put those words down on 21 July, two days after that final.
He added that after the death of his father, Jorge, who died aged 68 on 8 August, he was “even more convinced than before.” Earlier this month, Messi had spoken of doubts over continuing his playing career “for much longer” after his father’s death. His international career spanned two decades and included the 2026 World Cup in North America, his sixth appearance at a men’s World Cup.
That equals the joint-most editions played by any player alongside Cristiano Ronaldo. Messi became only the second player, after Brazil’s Cafu, to appear in three men’s World Cup finals: he won in 2022, was a runner-up to Germany in 2014, and lost to Spain in July’s final. In that match Argentina mustered only two shots in 120 minutes, one from Messi that was blocked, before Ferran Torres scored the 106th-minute winner.
The day after the final, Messi wrote: “The pain is immense and it’s going to take a long time for this wound to heal,” while noting the team had reached two consecutive World Cup finals. Messi ended the 2026 tournament with eight goals and four assists, finishing second in the Golden Boot race behind France’s Kylian Mbappe and taking the Silver Ball award behind Golden Ball winner Rodri.
During the tournament he surpassed Germany’s Miroslav Klose to become the all-time leading goalscorer in World Cup history, scoring the opener in a 2-0 group-stage win over Austria. Mbappe’s double in the third-place play-off against England saw the France captain move to a higher total of World Cup goals. Messi is Argentina’s all-time record appearance holder and leading goalscorer.
The 2010 World Cup in South Africa was the only edition in which he failed to score. He captained Argentina from 2011, won the World Cup for the first time in 2022 with seven goals and the country’s first title since 1986, and also won the Copa America in 2021 and 2024. He has won the World Cup Golden Ball twice, in 2014 and 2022, and the Ballon d’Or a record eight times.
His retirement statement thanked his family, coaches, team-mates and fans, saying he always gave his all and has “nothing left to give,” and pointed to “brilliant young players coming through who deserve their place.” He remains contracted to MLS club Inter Miami for another two years. Senior football writer Oliver Kay wrote that the announcement was not a surprise and had been expected after the World Cup final, with the timing reflecting further contemplation and time to grieve his father.
The US administration under President Donald Trump has not commented on the matter. Watch for tributes from fellow players and football institutions in the coming days.
