One of the greatest careers in football history is coming to an end. Lionel Messi, at the age of 39, has announced that he will no longer play for Argentina. Eighteen years after his first major World Cup and more than two decades after his debut, he is leaving as a world champion, twice winner of the Copa América, and the historical record holder for his country with 125 goals in 207 international matches. The final chapter was written in this year's World Cup final against Spain.
Messi announced his decision on Monday, August 31st, through social media. According to Reuters, he admitted that leaving still hurts him, but he has come to the conclusion that it is the right time to close this chapter of his career. He leaves the national team with a record: 207 matches and 125 goals, both of which are Argentine records.
His last match was the final of the 2026 World Cup
It is symbolic that Messi's last appearance in the white and blue jersey came on the biggest stage. Argentina lost to Spain 0-1 after extra time in the final of the 2026 World Cup at the stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
After a goalless 90 minutes, Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute. Argentina failed to become the first team since Brazil in 1958 and 1962 to defend their World Cup title. Messi received the silver medal with tears in his eyes after the match.
Even at 39, he was not just playing a symbolic role in the tournament. According to official FIFA statistics, he scored eight goals and provided four assists at the 2026 World Cup. He finished second in the scoring charts behind Kylian Mbappé, who scored ten goals. Messi also increased his historical record to 34 matches played in the World Cups and became the oldest outfield player to play in a World Cup final.
From painful defeats to the very top
Messi's relationship with the Argentine national team has not always been a story of unconditional triumph. In 2014, he led Albiceleste to the World Cup final, where Argentina lost to Germany. There were also painful defeats in the Copa América finals.
After the failure at the 2016 Copa América, he even announced his retirement from international football. However, he changed his mind, and his return ultimately opened the most successful period of his entire national team career.
The turning point came in 2021, when Argentina defeated Brazil at home in the final of the Copa América, and Messi won his first major senior trophy with the national team. He was also the top scorer and best assist provider for the Argentine team in the tournament.
A year later, there was a victory over Italy 3-0 in the 2022 Finalissima at Wembley, where Messi was named the man of the match. And then came Qatar.
Qatar changed Messi's national team story forever
At the 2022 World Cup, Messi led Argentina to the title. In a thrilling final against France, he scored two goals and lifted the trophy for the first time in his career after a penalty shootout. FIFA also named him the best player of the tournament and awarded him the Golden Ball.
Two years later, Argentina also defended their 2024 Copa América. Thus, during the final years of his national team career, Messi won practically everything that had painfully eluded him in the first half of his time with the national team.
His last attempt to win another title ended this year with silver, but the 2026 World Cup was another example of his extraordinary longevity. At 39, he was still able to be among the best players in the entire tournament.
The end of his time with the national team does not yet mean the end of Messi's professional career. He continues to play for Inter Miami in MLS, and his performance certainly doesn't suggest a gradual farewell to football. Shortly before announcing his retirement from international duty, he scored four goals and added an assist in Inter Miami's 7-1 victory over Montreal.
Lionel Messi in the Argentine national team: greatest achievements
2022 World Cup Champion
2014 and 2026 World Cup Runner-up
2021 and 2024 Copa América Winner
2022 Finalissima Winner
2005 Under-20 World Cup Champion
2008 Olympic Games Winner
207 international caps - Argentine record
125 international goals - Argentine record
34 World Cup matches - world record
21 World Cup goals
Eight Ballon d'Or awards during his career
Messi is therefore leaving the national team not only as its top scorer. He is leaving as a man who has gone from repeated final defeats and doubts to Argentina's most successful period since the era of Diego Maradona. The World Cup title from Qatar will remain the pinnacle of his international story, while the silver medal from 2026 became his last chapter.