Kathmandu, Aug 31: Argentine superstar Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football. The 39-year-old confirmed his decision through a post on Instagram on Monday night, bringing his illustrious 20-year career with the Argentine national team to an end.
Messi spent two decades wearing Argentina’s famous blue-and-white jersey and played a pivotal role in one of the most successful eras in the country’s football history. Under his leadership, Argentina won the 2022 FIFA World Cup, as well as the Copa América in 2021 and 2024 and the 2022 Finalissima.
Messi retires as Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player. He made 207 appearances and scored 125 goals for the national team.
His final appearance for Argentina came in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, where Argentina suffered a narrow 1–0 defeat to Spain.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner also claimed the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball in 2014 and 2022, becoming the first player to win the award twice. He is also among the leading scorers in World Cup history.
Messi will continue his club career with Inter Miami, where he currently plays in the United States.
His decision marks the end of a remarkable international career that saw him evolve from a young prodigy into Argentina’s iconic captain and lead the national team to its greatest triumph in decades.