Argentina football legend Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, saying the decision “hurts” but that “the time has come”.
The 39-year-old, who captained Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022, leaves the national team as its all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, with 125 goals in 207 appearances.
In a statement, Messi said he had given everything to Argentina but now felt he had nothing more to offer.
“Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply,” he said.
“I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the national team. I’ve given it my all, I have nothing left to give.”
Messi revealed that he wrote his retirement message on July 21, two days after Argentina lost to Spain in the World Cup final.
He said the death of his father, Jorge Messi, earlier in August had further convinced him that it was time to step away.
Messi made his Argentina debut in 2005 and went on to enjoy a remarkable international career, winning the 2022 World Cup and two Copa América titles.
He is also the second-highest scorer in World Cup history with 21 goals, behind France’s Kylian Mbappé, while ranking second among all-time international scorers behind Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo.
Messi previously retired from international football in 2016 after Argentina lost the Copa América final to Chile, but later reversed his decision.
His club career will continue with Major League Soccer side Inter Miami, where he is contracted until the end of the 2028 season.
In his farewell message to supporters, Messi thanked them for their love over the past two decades and said he would now support the national team from the sidelines.
“I’m leaving with the peace of mind and pride of having given you, together with my team-mates, moments we’d only dreamed of,” he said.
