Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, revealing that he had already made the decision shortly after Argentina’s most recent World Cup final but became even more certain following the death of his father, Jorge Messi.
In a message shared on Instagram, Messi said he had written the announcement on July 21, two days after the final, but waited before making it public. He said his father’s death has reinforced his belief that it is time to close his chapter with the Argentina national team.
Messi described the decision as painful, saying he had always given everything for the national jersey and wanted to make Argentinians proud through football.
After 20 years with the national team, the Argentina captain said he felt he had nothing more to give and believed the emergence of younger players made it the appropriate moment to step aside.
The announcement marks the end of one of the most remarkable international careers in football history.
Messi led Argentina to its long-awaited 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph in Qatar, finally achieving the major international title that had eluded him for much of his career. He also helped Argentina win the 2021 Copa América and subsequent international honours.
Reflecting on his career, Messi thanked his family, coaches, teammates and team officials who accompanied him throughout what he described as a beautiful but difficult journey.
He said he would now support Argentina from outside the national team, promising to remain a fan “in good times and bad.”
The announcement comes shortly after Messi publicly mourned his father, Jorge Messi, who died at the age of 68 following a long illness. Jorge played a central role in his son’s career from his teenage years and remained his agent as Messi developed into one of football’s greatest players.
Messi’s decision therefore carries both a sporting and deeply personal dimension.
After years of carrying Argentina’s expectations, the 39-year-old star says he is ready to watch from the sidelines — while continuing to support the country he represented for two decades.
“Thank you, God, for making me Argentinian,” Messi wrote, ending his message with a final expression of loyalty to the national team: “Go Argentina!”
