The final whistle had already delivered the pain. Now, Lionel Messi has decided there will be no more comebacks, confirming his retirement from international football at 39 after a remarkable 21-year journey with Argentina.
Messi leaves with 125 goals in 207 appearances, both national records. More importantly, he walks away having conquered almost everything there was to conquer in an Argentina shirt.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner lifted the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 after years of near misses. He also won the Copa America in 2021 and 2024, while leading Argentina to victory in the Finalissima in 2022.
His international story was not always filled with celebration. Early defeats and criticism gave way to a golden era, with Messi eventually becoming the leader of a generation that restored Argentina to the top of world football.
The last chapter came at this summer’s World Cup. Argentina reached the final for the second tournament in a row, but Spain ended their hopes with a 1-0 extra-time victory after Ferran Torres struck the decisive goal.
For Messi, the defeat carried a personal weight. He later revealed that he had written his retirement statement on July 21, just two days after the final, saying the loss “hurt deeply.”
Then came another blow. His father, Jorge, died in Rosario weeks after the tournament following a long illness, leaving Messi to confront the end of his career while mourning the man who had played a major role in his life.
In an emotional tribute, Messi wrote: “I wanted to win it so I could bring the trophy to you and show you a new one.” He added: “My legs had nothing left.”
Now, there is no trophy left to chase. “I’ve given everything I had; I have nothing left to give,” Messi said, while pointing to the younger players ready to carry Argentina forward.
His decision closes one of football’s greatest international careers. Messi will no longer wear the famous blue and white, but his goals, trophies and influence will remain woven into Argentina’s football history.
For 21 years, the country watched him chase the impossible. In the end, Messi did more than catch it. He made it his own.
