Argentina icon Messi retires from international football

Time now for sports. Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football at the age of 39. The Argentinian World Cup winning captain says it is a decision that has hurt him, but the time has come. The 39-year-old captained Argentina to World Cup glory in 2022. He has scored 125 goals in 207 appearances, making him the country's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player. Twenty-one years on from his first appearance, there's called time on a glorious Argentina career. Messi had hinted at his impending retirement during an emotional post on social media following the death of his father, Jorge, earlier in August. On Instagram, which he said he had originally written on July 21st, two days after the 2026 World Cup final, which Argentina lost to Spain, in his statement he said, and I quote, he has now confirmed his decision in a statement. Time is running short. Chapters come to a close, and this one that hurts me deeply. I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the national team. I've given it my all. I have nothing left to give. Besides, there are some really great young players coming through behind me who deserve their chance. Today, after what happened with my dad, I'm even more convinced than before. He retires having won every possible competition in international football after twice winning the Copa America in 2021 and 2024, but the highlight of his international career will remain the 2022 World Cup victory, where Messi was also awarded the golden ball for the second time. Messi was superb in the 2026 World Cup as well, and led the team to the finals. But Argentina lost to Spain, and that proved to be Messi's last in the iconic white and sky blue, an international career that ended in tears, but brought joy to every football fan on the planet.