According to an emotional statement posted by @leomessi on Instagram, Argentine football icon Lionel Messi has officially retired from international football at age 39, ending a 21-year run with his national team. Messi stated that after winning major honors, it was time to step aside for Argentina’s next generation.
AP News confirmed the historic announcement, detailing the global sports world’s reaction to the decision. “I have given everything I could to the national team,” AP News quoted Messi from his translated farewell message. BBC Sport also verified the news, noting his legacy across multiple Copa América titles and World Cup victories. “It is a painful but necessary choice,” BBC Sport cited from Messi’s social post.
Messi’s international retirement marks the end of an unprecedented era in international football, impacting Argentina’s upcoming qualification campaigns. Football federations and global superstars are already issuing tributes to his international career. Attention will now shift entirely to how long he continues playing at the club level.
Source: France24 — https://www.france24.com/en/tv-shows/sports/20260901-argentina-lionel-messi-announces-end-of-international-career/, September 1, 2026
Photo Credit: Instagram
