Lionel Messi retires from international football; Argentina teammates respond
Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football on Monday, August 31, 2026, ending an Argentina career that comprised 207 senior appearances and 125 goals. The 39-year-old decision prompted immediate tributes from current and former teammates.
Messi captained Argentina to FIFA World Cup success in 2022 and led the side to the World Cup final in 2026 in North America, where they lost to Spain. He leaves as Argentina’s all-time top scorer and is described in the source as the second-highest scorer in international football. In FIFA World Cup matches, Messi scored 21 goals across six editions, ranking him second on that list.
Rodrigo De Paul, who played with Messi for Argentina and at Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, was among the first to post a tribute and shared a lengthy message on social media. "Your unconditional love for our country, your internal battles to never give up, your strength to always endure injustices, your leadership and human quality with every player who entered the grounds to make them feel good, the details with every worker of our team…" he wrote. "Just thank you, the greatest of all time, thank you for making us so, so happy, you can’t imagine how many smiles you brought!! You are eternal."
Angel Di Maria, who currently plays for Rosario Central, reposted Messi’s announcement with the caption, "Thank you, Eternal Captain." Atletico Madrid defender Cristian Romero wrote, "I love you, I admire you, and I will always be grateful for everything you did for our country. Thank you so much, captain." Lyon left-back Nicolas Tagliafico wrote, "Forever grateful." Leandro Paredes added, "Thank you for absolutely everything!!! You are and always will be the greatest of all! We love you, captain."
Giovani Lo Celso, who plays for Real Betis, posted on Instagram: "Your legacy will be eternal. Thank you for teaching us so much and guiding us on this path both on and off the field. Every word falls short to thank you for what you gave to the Argentine fans. We are blessed to have shared so many things with you," he wrote. "Thank you for everything captain. We love you."
Geronimo Rulli, who recently joined Manchester City, posted a story on Instagram about Messi’s impact, writing: "You are eternal, not only for what you gave us as a player, but because you showed us the path of resilience, hard work, camaraderie, and above all, love for our country," Rulli wrote. "Thank you for giving me the opportunity to know Leo, the human being, not the player. We will miss you very much."
Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez shared an image of himself carrying Messi on his shoulders and added a lengthy caption in support of the forward. Giuliano Simeone, who currently plays for Atletico Madrid, also posted a tribute to Messi on his Instagram account.
Messi announced his retirement on Monday, August 31, 2026, ending his Argentina career with 125 goals in 207 appearances. For more updates, follow Khel Now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram.