“Different chapters are coming to an end. This is one that hurts me a lot.” On Monday, August 31, Lionel Messi used those words to announce his retirement from the Argentina national team, closing a 20-year international career.
The 39-year-old said he had always loved being part of the team. “I gave everything I had, and I don’t have anything more to give.”
The message was not a snap decision. Messi said he wrote it on July 21, two days after the World Cup final, in which Argentina finished runners-up. Then his father died. Jorge Messi, 68, passed away in Rosario on August 8 after a long illness. “Today, after what happened with my dad, I’m even more convinced of this decision than before,” Messi said.
The man behind the player
Jorge was a central figure in his son’s career. He went with Lionel through his childhood in Rosario, later served as his representative, and helped steer him after the teenage move to Barcelona. The family had asked for privacy about his health during the 2026 World Cup, where Messi was visibly emotional. After the death he went home to Rosario for a private farewell. The Argentine Football Association and clubs across the game paid tribute to Jorge.
Messi has retired only from international football. Earlier this month he admitted to “quite a few doubts” about his future, and his latest statement said there was “not much time left” and that new generations of Argentine players deserved their chance. There has been no formal word on club football, and he remains with Inter Miami.
From heartbreak to glory
For years his story with Argentina was one of near misses. After his senior debut in 2005 he lost the 2007 Copa America final to Brazil and the 2014 World Cup final to Germany. Argentina then lost consecutive Copa America finals to Chile in 2015 and 2016, both on penalties. After the second he quit international football at 29, only to return. Critics in Argentina compared him with Diego Maradona and said he could not reproduce his Barcelona form for his country.
The turn came at the 2021 Copa America, when Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 at the Maracana. It was his first major senior trophy and ended a 28-year wait for the country. A year later came the 2022 Finalissima win over Italy, then the World Cup in Qatar. Argentina beat France on penalties after a 3-3 final, with Messi scoring twice and converting in the shootout. He finished with seven goals and three assists and was named the tournament’s best player. Another Copa America followed in 2024, a 1-0 extra-time win over Colombia.
He also won Olympic gold with the Under-23 side in 2008, and twice took the World Cup Golden Ball. He became the first player to score in every knockout round of a single World Cup. Reports following his retirement put his Argentina record at 207 appearances and 125 goals, the most for the national team in both categories.
