Lionel Messi Retires From International Football

Lionel Messi has retired from international football.

NewsRain Nigeria reports that Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 39.

The news comes on the back of Argentina’s run to the World Cup final this summer, which ended with a 1-0 defeat to Spain in the final.

This marks the second time Messi has stepped back from international duty, following his retirement at the age of 29 in 2016.

When he made that decision a decade ago, he had just one gold medal at the 2008 Olympics to his name.

Now, having rejoined the international setup less than a month later, he can boast two Copa América titles and, of course, the 2022 World Cup.

READ ALSO: Lagos NIPR Unveils LaPRIGA 2026, Raises Bar For Communication Excellence

In total, he has 207 caps for his nation and scored 125 goals.

Messi’s international career got off to the worst possible start.

In August 2005, an 18-year-old Messi was sent off on his debut just 47 seconds after coming on as a substitute when he elbowed Hungary’s Vilmos Vanczak.

It would take until his sixth cap for the youngster to score his first international goal, a sensational curling strike against Croatia seven months later.

A year later, Messi bagged his first World Cup goal in a 6-0 demolition of Serbia and Montenegro.

At the age of 24, he became captain of his nation when Alejandro Sabella gave him the armband.

In his first World Cup as captain, Argentina reached the 2014 World Cup final before losing to Germany.

Eight years later, he finally got his hands on the trophy that had eluded him.

Lionel Messi on Monday announced his retirement from international soccer in an Instagram post showing a handwritten notebook entry in Spanish.

Messi confirmed that he is retiring from Argentina’s national team at age 39.

And in a footnote at the end, he added: “*I wrote these words on July 21st, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my dad, I am even more convinced than before.”

Recall that Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, died on Aug. 8 at a hospital in the central Argentina city of Rosario. He was 68.

Messi, who played in six World Cups, won the tournament in Qatar in 2022 and led Argentina to the final in 2026, losing to Spain.

The social media post said: “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 Argentina national team…

“It was a decision that hurt — and still hurts deep down — but I understand that the time has come. I swear to you that I always gave it my all — not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too;

I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.

“Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this one hurts me deeply. I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the national team.

I’ve given everything I had; I have nothing left to give, and besides, some great young players are coming up who deserve to be here.

“Thank you for all the affection over these past 20 years. 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).

“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.

“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!

“Thank you, God, for making me Argentine.

“Let’s go, Argentina!

“*I wrote these words on July 21st, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my dad, I am even more convinced than before.”

The Argentina captain is his country’s all-time leading goal scorer and most capped player.

Messi has scored 125 goals in 207 games for the national team.

He is the highest-scoring man in South American soccer history.

When he led Argentina to the World Cup win in 2022, it was the country’s first in 36 years and their third overall.

Before that, Messi played an essential role in ending Argentina’s 28-year trophy drought by winning the 2021 Copa América and then winning it again in 2024.

He previously announced his international retirement in 2016, having captained Argentina in three consecutive finals and failing to win any of them.

Messi reversed the decision not long after to lead the country to the World Cup victory.