ROSARIO, Argentina — Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from Argentina’s national football team, bringing an end to his international career after the 2026 World Cup final.
Messi made the announcement Monday, August 31, 2026, in a statement posted on Instagram, saying he had reached the decision after reflecting on Argentina’s defeat by Spain in the World Cup final.
“After the time that has passed since the final, and after giving it a lot of thought, I want to let everyone know that I am retiring from the National Team,” Messi said.
The announcement came after a difficult period for Messi. Argentina lost the World Cup final to Spain just over a month ago, while Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, died earlier in August.
View this post on Instagram
Messi’s Argentina Career
Messi leaves the national team with a record that includes one World Cup title and two Copa América championships.
Argentina won the 2022 World Cup with Messi as captain and claimed the Copa América in 2021 and 2024. The team also finished second at the 2014 and 2026 World Cups and at the Copa América tournaments in 2007, 2015 and 2016.
Messi was awarded the Golden Ball as the outstanding player at the 2014 and 2022 World Cups. He also received the award at the 2015 and 2021 Copa América tournaments.
His relationship with Argentina’s supporters evolved over a career in which major international success was initially difficult to achieve.
Messi left Rosario for Spain as a young player to pursue his football career with Barcelona. For years, Argentina came close to winning major tournaments without securing the titles its supporters expected, placing considerable pressure on the forward.
That changed during the latter part of his international career, when Argentina began collecting major trophies.
Messi acknowledged the support he received from Argentine fans during his final World Cup campaign.
“I will miss hearing you from the pitch so much. Now I’ll be just one of you, cheering and supporting from the outside (through the good times and the bad—especially the bad),” he wrote.
World Cup Defeat and His Father’s Death
Messi said his decision had been forming shortly after Argentina’s defeat by Spain in the World Cup final.
He said he wrote his retirement statement on July 21, two days after the match, although he did not immediately release it.
The death of Jorge Messi followed in August. Jorge Messi was his son’s agent and had played a central role in his career, including his years at Barcelona and Messi’s subsequent transfers to Paris Saint-Germain and Inter Miami.
He was also involved during the period surrounding Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph.
After his father’s death, Messi took time away from football to grieve.
In a tribute to his father, Messi wrote:
“I don’t know what I’m going to do without you, I don’t know how to go on. I only played football and now I have quite a few doubts about whether I’ll keep doing it for much longer.”
Messi said the loss strengthened his decision to leave the national team.
Messi Thanks Argentina
In his retirement statement, Messi thanked his family, coaches, teammates and officials who had been part of his international career.
“Thank you to my family for always being there, for accompanying me on this journey—so beautiful, yet so difficult. Thank you to every coach, teammate, and official I’ve shared this path with. I take with me unforgettable memories and moments.”
He also reflected on the achievements Argentina had once hoped to experience.
“I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you—alongside my teammates—moments we once only dreamed of. It was an incredible experience to live this with you all. I love you!” he wrote.
Messi closed the statement with a final tribute to his country.
“Thank you, God, for making me Argentine.”
