Lionel Messi announces international retirement

The 39-year-old, widely considered the greatest football player of all time, won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar with Argentina, bringing the title back to the country for the first time since 1986.

The 2026 World Cup, Messi's last appearance in the world's most well-known footballing competition, ended in disappointment for Argentina after defeat to Spain in the final.

Despite being past his prime, the Argentina captain was the second most prolific goalscorer of the 2026 World Cup with eight goals, only being edged out by France's Kylian Mbappe with ten.

Messi is also second in the World Cup's all-time goalscorer list, where he is one goal behind Mbappe, with both overtaking Germany striker Miroslav Klose's 16 goals during the tournament in the US, Canada and Mexico.

Retirement comes at 'right time'
"It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul," Messi posted on his Instagram account, adding that he wrote his international retirement message two days after the World Cup final defeat to Spain.

"But I understand that it is the right time," he added.

Messi said he "always gave everything, not just in the last few years," and that he wanted to bring Argentina fans joy ​and make them "feel proud to be ​Argentine through football."

"I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you — alongside my teammates — moments we once only dreamed of," he wrote, before concluding with "Vamos, Argentina!"

"I leave with the peace ​of mind ⁠and pride of having given you — alongside my ⁠teammates — ​moments we once only dreamed of," he added.