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Messi retires from international football
Confirmed
Argentina great Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, saying it was a decision that "hurt" him but "the time has come". Lionel Messi has said that he is bringing the curtains down on his international career, stating on Monday that that he won’t be playing for Argentina any more.
Earlier in August, Messi said he was considering his future in football after the death of his father, Jorge, who died aged 68 following a a long illness. “After all this time that has passed since the final, and after much thought, I want to announce to everyone that I am retiring from the National Team…” said Messi in a lengthy statement that he has posted on his Instagram account.
Messi revealed he decided to retire two days after Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the World Cup final on 19 July, but then delayed announcing his decision. Messi said that he had prepared the statement had been written two days after the 2026 World Cup final, which Argentina lost to Spain.
In a statement on Instagram, Messi said he has given everything to the national side but now has "nothing left to give". “It was a decision that hurt—and still hurts deep down—but I understand that the time has come,” he said.
What's confirmed
- Argentina great Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, saying it was a decision that "hurt" him but "the time has come".
- In a statement on Instagram, Messi said he has given everything to the national side but now has "nothing left to give".
- Messi revealed he decided to retire two days after Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the World Cup final on 19 July, but then delayed announcing his decision.
- Messi said that he had prepared the statement had been written two days after the 2026 World Cup final, which Argentina lost to Spain.
- “After all this time that has passed since the final, and after much thought, I want to announce to everyone that I am retiring from the National Team…” said Messi in a lengthy statement that he has posted on his…
What's still developing
- Earlier in August, Messi said he was considering his future in football after the death of his father, Jorge, who died aged 68 following a a long illness.
- “It was a decision that hurt—and still hurts deep down—but I understand that the time has come,” he said.
- Lionel Messi has said that he is bringing the curtains down on his international career, stating on Monday that that he won’t be playing for Argentina any more.