‘God of Football’ Lionel Messi Announces Argentina Retirement: ‘I Have Nothing More to Give’

Lionel Messi has ended his more than 20-year career with Argentina’s national team, saying he had given everything to the shirt and had “nothing more to give.” The 39-year-old announced the decision in a handwritten message posted on social media.

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After thinking a lot since the World Cup final, I want to tell you all that I have decided to retire from the national team.

Messi said he reached the decision after reflecting on the World Cup final. He described the farewell as deeply painful but said he knew the time had come. He also wrote that he had always loved playing for Argentina and would continue supporting the team from outside the squad.

His international career closes with 207 appearances and 125 goals, both national records. Messi led Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title and Copa América victories in 2021 and 2024. He also finished as a runner-up at the 2014 and 2026 World Cups.

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It was a painful decision, and it still hurts deeply, but I know that now is the time.

The 2026 tournament became Messi’s sixth and final World Cup. Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time in the final, played in New York and New Jersey on July 19. Messi said he wrote his retirement statement two days later but delayed publishing it. After his father, Jorge Messi, died on Aug. 8, he added that he felt more certain than ever.

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I have always loved playing for the national team, I love it and I always will. I gave everything I had, and now I have nothing more to give.

Messi thanked his fans, family, coaches, teammates and football officials. He said he was leaving with pride in having shared dreamlike moments with his teammates, and ended with a message to Argentina: “Let’s move forward.”

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Argentina, let’s move forward.