Lionel Messi retires from international soccer after leading Argentina to 2026 FIFA World Cup final
Lionel Messi officially announced Monday he was retiring from international soccer.
Messi has been the face of Argentina soccer since he started playing for the squad in 2005 when he was just 18 years old.
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Argentina head coach Diego Maradona looks at Argentina’s Lionel Messi as he controls the ball during the World Cup Group B soccer match against Nigeria in Johannesburg, South Africa, on Saturday, June 12, 2010. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
“It was a decision that hurt — and still hurts deeply — but I understand that the time has come,” Messi said in a post on his Instagram. “I swear to you that I always gave it my all— not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too; I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.”
Considered to be one of the greatest soccer players ever, Messi solidified that notion in 2022 when he led Argentina to a World Cup title. He nearly did it again this summer as Argentina made the final but fell to Spain in extra time.
He will finish his international career as Argentina’s leading goal scorer, playing in six World Cups and capturing two Copa América titles for his country. He scored 98 goals on the international stage for Argentina.
Argentina’s Lionel Messi celebrates with the trophy in front of fans after winning the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, on Dec. 18, 2022. Argentina won 4-2 in a penalty shootout after the match ended tied 3-3. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner)
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Messi’s personal accolades on the world stage have very few rivals. He was the FIFA World Cup Golden Ball winner in 2014 and 2022, won the FIFA World Cup Silver Ball in 2026 and the FIFA World Cup Silver Boot in 2022.
While his Argentina career comes to a close, he’s still performing at a high level in Major League Soccer.
Messi joined Inter Miami in 2023 and immediately took the U.S. league by storm. He scored 20 goals in his first full season with the club in 2024 and followed that with a 29-goal season in 2025, leading the team to an MLS Cup victory.
FILE – Argentina’s Lionel Messi walks along the pitch at the end of the group D match against Croatia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, on June 21, 2018. Croatia defeated Argentina 3-0. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
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Messi is leading MLS with 18 goals this season. Inter Miami is second in the Eastern Conference – 10 points behind Nashville SC for first place.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
