Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international soccer on Monday, Aug. 31, 2026, concluding a career representing the Argentina national team that spanned two decades. The 39-year-old forward, who currently captains Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, stated on Instagram that while the decision was painful, he believes his time with the national squad has reached its end.
The announcement follows the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, where Argentina reached the final but lost to Spain in extra time. Messi disclosed that he had written his retirement letter on July 21, two days after that final, but delayed the announcement due to the health issues of his father. Jorge Messi died on Aug. 8 at the age of 68 in Rosario, Argentina.
Messi finishes his international career as Argentina's all-time leading scorer with 125 goals. During the 2026 World Cup, he played in all eight matches and scored eight goals, finishing one goal behind France’s Kylian Mbappé for the tournament lead. Over two decades, Messi appeared in a record-tying six World Cups, highlighted by a championship title in 2022 and Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024.
While Messi will no longer wear the national jersey, he remains under contract with Inter Miami. He is the two-time defending Most Valuable Player in Major League Soccer. Over the weekend preceding his announcement, he scored four goals in a 7-1 win against CF Montreal.
The transition sets a new precedent for the Argentina national team, which must now compete without the player coach Lionel Scaloni described as a "legend." While he has not specified how long he will continue his club career, his international exit is effective immediately.