By admin 
Lionel Messi announced his retirement from the Argentina national team on Monday morning after two decades in the iconic sky blue and white No. 10 jersey.
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The announcement did not come as a surprise, as there had long been speculation that the 2026 World Cup would be the last for Messi, who is 39 years old and would be 43 at the next World Cup.
Messi scored eight goals in the recent World Cup, finishing second to France’s Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Boot race, and led Argentina to the World Cup final, where it lost 1-0 to Spain in extra time.
Messi made his announcement on Instagram Monday in a heartfelt letter he said he wrote on 21 July, two days after the World Cup final, adding that the death last month of his father, Jorge, confirmed to him that it was right time to step away from the national team.
Messi won the World Cup with Argentina in 2022 and led the Albiceleste to back-to-back trophies at the Copa América in 2021 and 2024. He retires with 125 goals in 207 matches for Argentina.
He will continue to play for Inter Miami. He is the team captain and his contract runs through the 2028 MLS season. He scored four goals in a 7-1 win against CF Montreal over the weekend leads the league with 18 goals scored.
Here is the full text of Messi’s international retirement letter:
“After the time that passed since the final, thinking about it a lot, I want to communicate to everyone that I am retiring from the national team…
“It was a decision that hurt and hurts in the soul, but I understand that this is the moment. I promise you that I always gave everything, not just in the last few years when we won everything but before as well and I always fought and left everything on the field for this shirt, to give you all joy and make you feel proud to be Argentines through soccer
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“There’s little time left, stages of your career close, and this one hurts me a lot. I love, I loved and I always will love being in the national team. I gave my all, I don’t have anything left to give and beyond that really great young players are coming who deserve to be there.
“Thank you for all the love in these 20 years. I’m going to miss hearing you from inside. Now, I’ll be one more of you, supporting and backing always from the outside (in the good times and even more in the bad).
“Thank you to my family for always being there, for accompanying me on this beautiful but difficult journey. Thank you to every one of the coaches, teammates and directors I crossed paths with. I take memories and unforgettable moments experienced with me.
“I am going with the peace and pride of having, along with my teammates, given you moments you dreamed about. It was nuts to experience them with you. I love you.
“Thank you God for making me Argentine.¡Vamos Argentina!
“* These are the words I wrote July 21, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my father, I’m more convinced than before.”
This story was originally published August 31, 2026 at 9:34 AM with the headline “Messi announces retirement from Argentina national team. What it means for Inter Miami.”
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