Argentina captain Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to a remarkable 21-year career with the national team.

The 39-year-old Inter Miami forward announced his decision on Monday in an emotional statement posted on Instagram, saying the decision was painful but that he believed the time had come to step away from the national team.

Messi revealed that he had made the decision shortly after Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. The recent death of his father, Jorge Messi, also influenced his decision to bring his international career to an end.

The football icon said he had always given his best for Argentina and had fought to make supporters proud of their country through football.

He also acknowledged the emergence of a younger generation of talented Argentine players, saying the time had come to give them opportunities to take their places in the national team.

Messi leaves international football as Argentina’s all-time leading appearance-maker and goalscorer, having recorded 207 appearances and 125 goals for the country.

His international career included several years of disappointment before a remarkable period of success. After losing the 2014 World Cup final and suffering defeats in major Copa América finals, Messi finally won his first major senior international trophy when Argentina lifted the 2021 Copa América.

He went on to lead Argentina to victory at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, fulfilling a long-held ambition and further cementing his status as one of the greatest players in football history. He also won the 2024 Copa América with Argentina.

Messi also led Argentina to the 2026 World Cup final, where they lost 1-0 to Spain, ending their bid to defend the title.

His departure marks the end of an extraordinary chapter in Argentine football. From the early struggles with the national team to becoming captain, World Cup champion and one of the country’s most celebrated sporting figures, Messi leaves behind a legacy defined by records, trophies and an enduring connection with Argentina.

Although he will no longer represent Argentina internationally, Messi will continue his club career with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.