Lionel Messi announces retirement from international football

Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football in an Instagram statement on 31 August 2026, saying the decision "hurt" him but that "the time has come". The 39-year-old said he had given everything to the national side and now had "nothing left to give".

Messi made his Argentina debut in 2005 and captained the side to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022. He has scored 125 goals in 207 appearances, making him the country's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player. At club level he plays for Inter Miami and is an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner.

In his Instagram statement Messi wrote: "Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply." He followed that by saying: "I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the national team."

Addressing his decision to step aside for younger players, he added: "I've given it my all, I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some really great young players coming through behind me who deserve their chance."

Earlier in August, Messi said he was considering his future in football after the death of his father, Jorge, who died aged 68 following a long illness.

The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner said he wrote his retirement message on 21 July, two days after Argentina lost to Spain in this summer's World Cup final. He added: "Today, after what happened with my dad, I'm even more convinced than before."