Lionel Messi has confirmed that he is stepping away from international football after making 207 appearances for Argentina. The 39-year-old debuted for his country in 2005, lifted the World Cup in 2022, and finished as a runner-up both this summer and in 2014. He also helped Argentina claim two Copa América trophies.
In a statement, Messi said: “Making this choice was painful, and that pain remains, but I know the moment has arrived. I can honestly say that I gave everything I had. That was true not only during the recent years of success, but throughout my entire international career. Whenever I wore this shirt, I fought with everything I had to bring happiness to our supporters and make Argentinians proud through football.
“There is only so much time, and every chapter eventually ends. Closing this one is especially difficult for me. Being part of the national side has always meant so much, and it always will. I have offered all that I can and have nothing more left to give. There is also an outstanding new generation waiting for an opportunity, and those players deserve their place.”
Messi explained that he drafted the announcement on 21 July, two days after the World Cup final. The death of his father, Jorge, last month convinced him that this was the appropriate time to release it and bring his international career to an end.
Following his father’s death, Messi said he had experienced “many doubts” about how much longer he could continue playing. He also described the physical difficulties he faced during Argentina’s World Cup final loss to Spain. “My legs had nothing more to offer,” he said. “I attempted to go beyond my physical limits once again, but this time my body could not continue.”
At club level, Messi represents Inter Miami and is contracted until 2028. Last Saturday, he scored four times in a Major League Soccer game for the first time, leading his side to an emphatic 7-1 victory over CF Montreal.
Messi previously announced his international retirement in 2016 after missing a penalty in a Copa final shootout defeat. He later reversed that decision and returned to help Argentina qualify for the 2018 World Cup finals.
What do you feel about this post?
Like
Love
Happy
Haha
Sad
