Argentina football icon Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football. After featuring for his country in his sixth World Cup campaign, Messi confirmed on Monday that he will no longer play international football.
Calling it a decision that “hurts deep in my soul,” the 39-year-old said he has realised that the time has come to step away.
Messi’s final appearance for Argentina came in the World Cup final against Spain, where Argentina suffered a 1-0 defeat. The South American champions managed only two shots across 120 minutes, with Ferran Torres scoring the winning goal in the 106th minute.
The latest tournament marked another historic chapter in Messi’s career. After lifting the World Cup with Argentina in 2022 and finishing runners-up to Germany in 2014, he became one of the very few players to feature in three men’s World Cup finals.
Messi has also been dealing with personal grief following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, who passed away at the age of 68 on August 8. Earlier this month, the Argentine star had admitted he was unsure how much longer he would continue his playing career.
