jordan pulse -

Argentine star Lionel Messi announced on Monday his retirement from international football with his country's national team, bringing an end to an international career spanning more than 20 years, during which he won the 2022 World Cup and two Copa América titles.
​In a message posted on his Instagram account, Messi stated that he made the decision after long reflection following Argentina's loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, explaining that the decision "pained him and pains him deep inside," but he felt that the time had come to conclude this chapter.
​The Argentina captain added that he "gave everything" to the national team, emphasizing his pride in representing his country and bringing joy to its fans, noting that this was not limited to recent years that saw him win the 2022 World Cup and two Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024.
​Messi thanked Argentine fans for their support over more than two decades, while also expressing gratitude to his family, teammates, coaches, and officials, confirming that he will continue to follow and support the national team "from the outside."
​Messi played 207 international matches during which he scored 125 goals, becoming the all-time top scorer for the Argentina national team and its most-capped player.
​Messi led Argentina to win the Copa América titles in 2021 and 2024, before crowning his international career with the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, achieving the defining highlight of his international career.
​The Argentina national team lost the 2026 World Cup final to Spain 1-0 after extra time.
​Source: Rum News Agency