Argentina captain Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football on Monday, weeks after leading the national team to a second successive FIFA World Cup final.
The 39-year-old confirmed the decision in an Instagram post, saying it remained painful but that he believed the time was right to end his international career.
Messi said he had always given everything while representing Argentina, both during the team’s recent trophy-winning period and throughout the more difficult years that preceded it.
His retirement comes after Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final in July, ending the country’s bid to retain the trophy it won four years earlier.
Messi had captained Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup title in Qatar, where they defeated France on penalties following a dramatic final in Doha.
The forward’s international future had come under renewed uncertainty after the death of his father, Jorge Messi, in August. According to reports, Messi subsequently said he had “serious doubts” about continuing to play football for much longer.
The announcement ends Messi’s involvement with Argentina but does not immediately conclude his club career.
Read: Lionel Messi Unsure About Future After Father’s Death
His contract with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami CF runs through the end of the 2028 season, leaving him under contract at club level despite stepping away from international competition.
Messi’s retirement follows Argentina’s appearance in consecutive World Cup finals — winning against France in 2022 before finishing runners-up to Spain in 2026.
