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Lionel Messi ends his historic career with Argentina

From El Comercio · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

In-depth Named sources Outcome reported
  • Argentina captain Lionel Messi announced his retirement from the national team in an emotional letter posted on social media.
  • Messi said the decision followed extensive reflection and the recent death of his father, Jorge Messi.
  • His career with Argentina ran from his 2005 debut through his final tournament in 2026 and included major titles and defeats.

Lionel Messi has decided that his time with Argentina is over. In an emotional letter posted on Instagram, the captain and leading figure of the national team said he would not wear the Albiceleste shirt again.

After this time that has passed since the final, after thinking about it a lot, I want to tell everyone that I am retiring from the national team.

— Lionel MessiMessi announced his retirement from Argentina’s national team in his Instagram letter.

“After this time that has passed since the final, after thinking about it a lot, I want to tell everyone that I am retiring from the national team,” Messi wrote. He said the choice had been one of the most difficult of his career, but that he had reached the moment to close the chapter after giving everything to his country.

“It was a decision that hurt and still hurts in my soul, but I understand that the time has come. I swear I always gave everything, not only in recent years when we won everything, but before that too. I always fought and gave everything for this shirt.”

It was a decision that hurt and still hurts in my soul, but I understand that the time has come. I swear I always gave everything, not only in recent years when we won everything, but before that too. I always fought and gave everything for this shirt.

— Lionel MessiHe described the personal difficulty of ending his international career.

Messi also pointed to the generation coming through. “I have emptied myself, I have nothing more to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming behind who deserve to be there.” He thanked his family, coaches, teammates, officials and supporters who accompanied him throughout his national-team career.

I have emptied myself, I have nothing more to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming behind who deserve to be there.

— Lionel MessiMessi explained his decision and referred to the next generation of Argentina players.

Messi said he wrote the letter on July 21, two days after the final, but delayed publishing it after the recent death of his father. “I wrote these words on July 21, two days after the final. Today, after what happened to my father, I am more convinced than before.” A farewell video followed, revisiting his childhood dream of representing Argentina, his first senior appearances, World Cups, lost finals, titles and moments with Diego Armando Maradona.

I wrote these words on July 21, two days after the final. Today, after what happened to my father, I am more convinced than before.

— Lionel MessiHe explained when he wrote the letter and linked its publication to his father’s recent death.
About this summary

Originally published by El Comercio in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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