Lionel Messi retires from Argentina national team after 21 years, age 39

Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international soccer on August 31, 2026, ending 21 years of play for Argentina. Messi is 39 years old. Argentina lost to Spain in the World Cup final on July 19 in extra time in New Jersey, according to NPR. Messi wrote his retirement letter on July 21, two days after the World Cup final, according to NPR. He delayed publishing the letter because his father was facing health issues that eventually claimed his life. Jorge Messi died on August 8 in his native Rosario, per NPR's reporting. Messi's international career spanned 207 appearances with 125 goals, making him Argentina's all-time leading scorer. He played in a record-tying six World Cups, per NPR's reporting. Twenty-one of Messi's 125 international goals came in World Cups. Messi finishes with the most men's World Cup appearances of all time: 34 spread across six tournaments, according to the Guardian. He scored or assisted 185 times in his 207 caps, per the Guardian. Messi won the World Cup four years ago in Qatar, captaining the team to victory, according to NPR. He also won Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024, according to NPR. A decade ago, Messi retired from the national team following Argentina's defeat in the 2016 Copa America final to Chile on penalty kicks, one of which he missed. He returned and led Argentina to major tournament success in the years that followed. Two months after Messi starred at the 2005 world under-20 championship, scoring both of Argentina's goals in the final triumph, he was given his senior Argentina debut at 18, according to NPR. Messi's first appearance lasted only two minutes; the substitute was sent off against Hungary in Budapest, per NPR. He was shown a straight red card less than a minute after his debut when he swung his arm and his elbow connected with full-back Vilmos Vanczak, according to the BBC. Cristiano Ronaldo has 146 goals in men's internationals and has yet to announce his retirement from Portugal duty, according to NPR. Messi is second for goals in all internationals (125) behind Cristiano Ronaldo (146), per the BBC. Messi continues to play at club level with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer and has a contract with the team that runs to the end of the 2028 season, per the BBC. He scored four goals for Inter Miami at the weekend in a 7-1 victory over CF Montreal, according to NPR. In that same match, he provided an assist, pushing him into the lead for the league's golden boot, per the Guardian. Messi is a record eight-time world player of the year. Argentina President Javier Milei wrote on Instagram: 'Thank you very much, impossible man.' FIFA President Gianni Infantino praised Messi 'for an extraordinary international career that has inspired millions of people and redefined our sport. Your magical talent and humility will be remembered forever.'