Soccer icon Lionel Messi has officially announced his retirement from the Argentina national team, bringing an end to a career that spanned nearly two decades. The 39-year-old athlete, who made his debut for the senior national squad in 2006, shared the news via an Instagram post on Monday.
Reflecting on his decision, Messi acknowledged the emotional weight of his departure. "It was a decision that hurt — and still hurts deeply — but I understand that the time has come," he wrote. He expressed that he had always given his absolute best for the jersey, both during the recent years of success and throughout his earlier career, with the goal of bringing joy to the Argentine people.
Messi’s international career included participating in six World Cups, culminating in a historic tournament victory in Qatar in 2022. This past summer, he captained the squad to the final, where they ultimately fell to Spain. He revealed that he had actually written his retirement letter on June 21, just two days after the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The announcement follows a period of profound personal loss for the athlete, as his father, Jorge Messi, passed away on August 8 at the age of 68. Messi noted that the tragedy left him questioning his future in the sport, stating, "After everything with my dad, I am even more convinced than before."
Over the course of his international tenure, Messi played 207 games for Argentina and concludes his time with the team as its all-time leading scorer, having netted 125 goals. While he remains behind only Cristiano Ronaldo—who has 146 goals and has yet to announce his own retirement—Messi expressed deep gratitude to his fans. "Thank you for all the love these past 20 years. I'm going to miss hearing you all from the inside so much. Now I'm going to be one of you, cheering and supporting you from the outside," he added.
The Argentine Football Association released a statement honoring his legacy, thanking him for making the country dream and for turning those dreams into reality. While Messi currently plays club soccer for Inter Miami following long tenures with Barcelona FC and Paris Saint-Germain, he did not specify how much longer he intends to continue his professional career.
"I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you — along with my teammates — moments we once only dreamed of. Experiencing this with you was incredible. I love you all," he added.
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Md. Kazi Bijoy is a dedicated tech enthusiast and content creator with a passion for digital innovation. With years of experience in the tech industry, he specializes in breaking down complex topics into easy-to-understand guides. When he isn’t writing, he explores the latest gadgets and researches emerging trends in the digital world.