Lionel Messi announces his retirement from Argentina’s national team after 2026 World Cup

Lionel Messi says his time with Argentina is ending after the 2026 World Cup, a decision he described as painful but increasingly certain.

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It was a decision that hurt and still hurts, but I understand that the time has come.

In a statement posted on social media, the 39-year-old forward said he had thought extensively about leaving the national team. “It was a decision that hurt and still hurts, but I understand that the time has come,” he wrote. Messi said he had given everything for the shirt, both during Argentina’s recent run of victories and in the years before it.

Messi thanked supporters for two decades of affection and said he would continue backing the team from outside. He also expressed gratitude to his family, coaches, teammates and officials, saying he would leave with unforgettable memories and the pride of having shared dreamlike moments with the fans.

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I swear that I gave everything I had.

His international career included Copa América victories in 2021 and 2024, a Finalissima win over Italy in 2022 and Argentina’s World Cup triumph in Qatar that same year. Argentina later reached the 2026 World Cup final but lost to Spain.

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I love being with the national team, I have loved it and I will always love it.

Messi first played for Argentina in 2005. The article lists him with 185 appearances, 106 goals and 38 assists for the national team. He said talented younger players were coming through and that he had no more to give on the field.

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I leave with the peace and pride of having given you dreamlike moments together with my teammates.