Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from the Argentine national team at the age of 39, concluding a career that spanned nearly two decades representing his country.
Having participated in six World Cups, Messi achieved victory in the 2022 tournament in Qatar and guided Argentina to the final in 2026, ultimately losing to Spain.
In a heartfelt message on his official Instagram account, Messi expressed the emotional difficulty of his decision, stating, “It was a painful choice that continues to deeply affect me, but I recognize that the time has come. I assure you that I always gave my utmost— not only during our recent successful years, but long before that; I consistently battled and left everything on the field to bring joy and pride to Argentinians through the beautiful game of football.”
