Lionel Messi: A golden era in the world of football has come to an end. Argentina’s legendary star Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football. Messi, who spread magic on the field in Argentina’s jersey for more than two decades, will no longer be seen playing for the national team. Under the captaincy of Messi, Argentina won the FIFA World Cup 2022 title. In 2026 also, the team played the final under the captaincy of Messi, but lost to Spain and missed out on winning the second consecutive title.
Messi told in his emotional farewell message that it was very difficult for him to take this decision. He wrote that he gave everything for the country and now he feels that he has nothing left to give further. According to Messi, this decision was going to hurt his heart deeply, but he felt that now is the right time.
Messi wrote an emotional post
Messi wrote on Instagram – After the final, after thinking carefully about it, he has decided that he is retiring from the national team. It was a decision that hurt him to his core, but he realizes the time is now right. He has always given his all, not just in recent years when we won everything, but even before that. He always worked hard for this jersey and gave everything he had, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentinian through football.
Dream fulfilled in 2022
The most memorable moment of Messi’s international career came in 2022, when Argentina won the World Cup title in Qatar under his captaincy. This was Argentina’s first World Cup since 1986. Messi scored seven goals in that tournament and played an important role in making the team champion.
Apart from this, under the captaincy of Messi, Argentina also won the Copa America title twice in a row in 2021 and 2024. He also took the team to the finals in the 2026 World Cup, but after losing to Spain in the title match, Argentina had to return empty handed. This was Messi’s sixth World Cup. He was among the players who played the tournament the most number of times in the history of the Men’s World Cup. He played three World Cup finals in his career. In 2014, Argentina lost against Germany. At the same time, in 2022 the team became champion and in 2026 it had to be content with becoming runner-up. Messi scored eight goals and assisted four goals in his last World Cup.
Questions were raised regarding career after father’s death
Earlier this month, Messi had expressed doubts about continuing the game for a long time after the death of his father George Messi. His father died on 8 August at the age of 68. Despite retiring from international football, Messi will continue playing at club level. He is currently a part of America’s Major League Soccer club Inter Miami. His current contract runs through the 2028 MLS season.