World

Lionel Messi announces retirement from the Argentina national team

After 21 years of service to the national team, Lionel Messi has announced his retirement. This decision follows the defeat in the World Cup final against Spain.

31 August 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Lionel Messi announces retirement from the Argentina national team — Archive photoPhoto: The Presidential Press and Information Office · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 4.0

Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from the Argentina national team. The 39-year-old superstar made the announcement on Monday via Instagram. The decision came just 43 days after the lost World Cup final in Qatar, where Argentina was defeated by Spain 1-0 after extra time.

Messi, who has played a total of 207 international matches for Argentina, stated that it was a painful decision that continues to hurt him. However, he acknowledged that the time for this step had come.

The Argentine footballer won numerous titles with his national team, including the Copa América and the FIFA World Cup 2022. These successes have solidified his status as one of the greatest football players of all time.

The announcement of his retirement has been widely discussed in the media. According to Kicker, the retirement marks the end of an era in Argentine football history, with Messi being part of the national team for over two decades.

Sources report on the emotional significance of this step, noting that Messi emphasized in his post that he carefully considered his decision. This retirement announcement prompts the international football community to focus on the future of the Argentina national team without its captain.

Reactions to his decision have been diverse. Fans and experts honor his time with the national team and show respect for his retirement after such a long and successful career.

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