Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from the Argentina national team after two decades of international football, bringing an emotional chapter of his career to an end.
After taking time to reflect on the period following the final, Messi announced his decision in an emotional message to Argentina supporters.
The Argentina captain said the decision was painful but that he understood the time had come to step away. He stressed that he had always given everything for the national team, not only during the recent years when Argentina won major trophies, but throughout his entire international career.
Messi said he had always fought for the Argentina shirt and given everything he had to bring joy to the supporters and make them proud to be Argentine through football.
The 39-year-old also acknowledged that chapters of his career were beginning to close. He said leaving the national team was particularly painful because he loves, has loved and will always love representing Argentina.
Messi explained that he felt he had nothing more to give and pointed to the talented young players coming through who deserved an opportunity with the national team.
He also thanked Argentina supporters for the affection they had shown him throughout his 20 years with the national team, saying he would miss hearing them from inside the stadium.
Although he is stepping away from international football, Messi said he would continue to support Argentina from outside the team, cheering them on in both the good times and the bad.
The forward also thanked his family for accompanying him throughout what he described as a beautiful but difficult journey. He expressed his gratitude to the coaches, teammates and officials he had shared his career with, saying he would leave with unforgettable memories and moments.
Messi said he was leaving with peace of mind and pride, knowing that he and his teammates had given Argentina supporters moments they had dreamed of experiencing.
He ended his message with a tribute to his homeland, writing: “Thank you, God, for making me Argentine. Vamos Argentina!”
At the end of his statement, Messi revealed that he had actually written the message on July 21, two days after the final.
He added that, following what happened to his father, he was now more convinced than ever that his decision to retire from the national team was the right one.
Messi leaves the Argentina national team as the country's most-capped player and all-time leading scorer, with 207 appearances and 125 goals.
His international career included some of the biggest achievements in Argentina's history. He won the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the 2024 Copa América.
The 2022 World Cup triumph in Qatar was particularly significant, as Messi finally lifted football's biggest international trophy after years of disappointment with Argentina.
His retirement from the national team marks the end of a 20-year international career in which Messi became the defining figure of Argentina's modern football era.
However, the announcement does not mean Messi is retiring from football altogether. He is stepping away from international football while continuing his club career.