Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football on Monday via a video posted to Instagram [1, 2].
The departure of the 39-year-old [1] marks the end of an era for Argentina, removing one of the most decorated players in the history of the sport from the global stage.
Messi said the decision was difficult, stating, "This hurts me a lot" [1]. He said the choice was a "decision that hurts to my core" [2] and noted that the feeling "still hurts deep inside" [4].
The announcement concludes a tenure of 22 years representing Argentina [3]. Throughout his international career, Messi led the national team to various honors, including the 2022 World Cup title [3].
Messi said he felt it was the right moment to step away after two decades of service [1, 4]. While some reports suggested he may have effectively retired following the 2026 World Cup final [5], the formal announcement was delivered this week via social media [1, 2, 4].
He said his age and a desire to move on from the international game were primary drivers for the decision [1, 4, 5]. The retirement ends his participation in all future international competitions and matches for the Argentine side [5].
“"This hurts me a lot."”
Messi's retirement forces Argentina to transition into a new tactical era without their primary playmaker. Having secured the 2022 World Cup, Messi leaves the national team at a peak of historical success, leaving a void in leadership and scoring that the next generation of Argentine talent must now fill ahead of future tournament cycles.
