Argentina football legend Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 39, bringing an extraordinary career with the national team to an end.
Messi said the decision was painful but acknowledged that the time had come to step away from international duty.
The Argentine captain leaves the national team as its all-time leading goalscorer and most-capped player, having made 207 appearances and scored 125 goals for Argentina.
His international career spanned more than two decades and included some of the most significant achievements in Argentine football history.
The defining moment came in 2022 when Messi captained Argentina to victory at the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, finally winning the trophy that had eluded him throughout much of his career.
He also led Argentina to Copa América triumphs and established himself as one of the most decorated players in the history of international football.
Messi’s journey with Argentina was not always straightforward. He endured years of criticism and disappointment after several major tournament defeats before eventually achieving international success.
His retirement marks the end of an era for Argentina, where he became the central figure of the national team for more than 15 years.
At 39, Messi leaves international football with an extraordinary statistical record and a collection of major trophies that cement his place among the greatest players in the history of the sport.
His departure also means Argentina will begin preparing for life without the player who has carried much of the team’s attacking responsibility for more than a generation.
The Argentine Football Association and supporters around the world are expected to honour Messi’s contribution to the national team as the football world reflects on one of the greatest international careers ever produced.