A soccer icon says goodbye to the Albiceleste
Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from Argentina’s national team. The 39-year-old forward made the decision after Argentina lost the 2026 World Cup final to Spain on July 19, but he is scheduled to make a farewell appearance against Benin on Oct. 6.
Messi’s Argentina career began in 2005 and included the 2021 Copa America, the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Copa America. He leaves international soccer as Argentina’s record goalscorer and most-capped player, although his farewell match has not yet been played.
A skinny kid from Rosario with a giant dream
Messi was born on June 24, 1987, in Rosario, Argentina, and showed rare talent from an early age. A growth hormone deficiency threatened his career until Barcelona’s youth academy agreed to fund his treatment.
The club signed him at age 13, famously drafting part of the deal on a napkin. That gamble became the foundation for the greatest individual career the sport has ever produced.
Barcelona becomes the stage for a phenomenon
Messi debuted for Barcelona’s first team in 2004 and became a fixture during one of the club’s golden eras. He helped Barcelona win league titles, domestic cups, and continental crowns across 17 seasons.
His partnership with midfielders Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta produced some of the most fluid soccer ever played. By the time he departed in 2021, Barcelona’s trophy case bore his fingerprints everywhere.
Eight Ballon d’Or trophies and counting
Messi has won a record eight Ballon d’Or awards, more than any other player in the history of the prize. His first came in 2009, and his eighth arrived in 2023.
Cristiano Ronaldo is next with five Ballon d’Or awards, while Michel Platini, Johan Cruyff and Marco van Basten each won three. Messi’s eight awards remain the record as of September 2026.
Four Champions League stars sewn into his legacy
Messi was part of 4 Barcelona squads that won the Champions League, in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2015. He played in the 2009, 2011 and 2015 final victories but was not part of Barcelona’s final-day squad in 2006.
Messi finished his Champions League career with 129 goals in 163 appearances, ranking second on the competition’s all-time scoring list behind Cristiano Ronaldo. His 129 goals also place him among the tournament’s most prolific scorers.
Heartbreak wore the Argentina jersey for years
Despite his club success, Messi endured painful losses with Argentina, including the 2014 World Cup final and back-to-back Copa America final defeats. Critics questioned whether his brilliance would ever translate to his national team.
He briefly stepped away from international soccer in 2016 after another agonizing final loss. Fans and teammates convinced him to return, setting up the redemption still to come.
Copa America 2021 finally breaks the curse
Messi won his first major senior international trophy when Argentina defeated Brazil 1-0 in the 2021 Copa America final at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium. The victory ended Argentina’s 28-year wait for a major senior men’s title.
The Copa America triumph marked a turning point in Messi’s Argentina career. Argentina followed it with the 2022 World Cup title, giving Messi the major international championship he had pursued for years.
Qatar delivers the trophy he chased his whole career
Argentina defeated France on penalties in the 2022 World Cup final, capping a tournament many consider the greatest ever played. Messi won the Golden Ball as the event’s top player.
He finished with seven goals and three assists across seven matches in Qatar. The championship completed a career that had already won nearly everything else in the sport.
A calendar-year scoring record still stands untouched
Messi scored 91 goals for club and country in 2012, setting the Guinness World Records mark for most goals in a calendar year. The total included 84 official goals for Barcelona and Argentina, plus 5 additional goals in Barcelona friendlies.
His 2012 campaign also included a 5-goal Champions League performance against Bayer Leverkusen and several 4-goal games. Messi’s 91-goal calendar year remains the recognized record.
A new chapter opens in South Florida
Messi left Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 and joined Inter Miami, where he immediately helped the club win its first major trophy, the 2023 Leagues Cup. He scored 10 goals in 7 appearances and was named the tournament’s Best Player and Top Scorer.
His arrival generated major attention across North American soccer. Inter Miami drew a 72,610-person crowd at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium in 2024, while MLS described the broader impact of Messi’s arrival as transforming attention around the league.
One last World Cup on home soil
Messi played at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada, reaching the final with Argentina before losing 1-0 to Spain after extra time on July 19. He scored 8 goals and provided 4 assists during the tournament.
The World Cup became Messi’s final tournament for Argentina, but it was not his final appearance for the national team. He announced his international retirement on Aug. 31 and is scheduled to play a farewell friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires on Oct. 6.
The numbers that define a generational career
Messi leaves Argentina as the national team’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, with 125 goals in 207 appearances. He also holds the record for most FIFA World Cup appearances, with 34 across 6 tournaments.
His club career has added hundreds more goals, including 672 for Barcelona and 100 for Inter Miami as of September 2026. His records and achievements have made him a central figure in comparisons among soccer’s most accomplished players.
Argentina says farewell to its favorite son
The Argentine Football Association confirmed Messi’s international retirement in August 2026, closing the book on his national team career.
Scaloni called him the most important player he had ever coached during a farewell tribute. The federation announced plans to honor his contributions before Argentina’s next competitive match.
The Ronaldo-Messi rivalry continues to spark debate long after their biggest battles on the pitch. Explore how one Instagram “like” reopened the Ronaldo-Messi rivalry.
What comes next for the game’s greatest ambassador
Messi is expected to continue his club career with Inter Miami after stepping away from international soccer. He signed a contract extension that runs through the end of the 2028 MLS season, keeping him with the club beyond his retirement from Argentina.
His next chapter will continue in Miami, where he has already reached 100 goals for Inter Miami and helped the club win multiple trophies. Fans can now look back on an international career that includes the 2021 Copa America, 2022 World Cup and 2024 Copa America.
Messi’s final chapter with Argentina has already created some unforgettable moments. Check out how Lionel Messi’s final Argentina gesture leaves teammates speechless
What’s your favorite Lionel Messi moment with Argentina? Share your pick in the comments and tell us why it stands out to you.
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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