Lionel Messi announces he is retiring from international football and will no longer play for Argentina. Multiple outlets report he makes the announcement in a statement posted on Instagram, bringing to an end an international career spanning more than two decades.
The reports agree Messi debuted for Argentina in 2005 and finishes with 207 appearances and 125 goals, making him the national team’s all-time leading scorer. Several sources describe the decision as a final step away from international competition, echoing language from his statement such as having “nothing left to give.”
Outlets also provide limited context around timing. Euronews links the decision to a period of personal reflection following the recent death of Messi’s father, Jorge Messi, while other reports focus primarily on the career records and the end of his Argentina tenure. Yahoo Sports separately notes that fans discuss ideas for a potential farewell match, even though the retirement itself is treated as official and final.
