Lionel Messi don announce say e no go play for Argentina national team again, as e close one of the greatest international football careers wey the world don ever see.
The 39-year-old Argentina captain make the announcement through emotional message wey e post for Instagram. The decision come more than one month after Argentina lose 1–0 to Spain for extra time inside the 2026 FIFA World Cup final for New Jersey. That match become Messi’s last game for the national team.fifa+1
Messi write say after e don take time think about the matter, e don decide say “the time don reach” to leave the national team.
‘The decision pain me deeply’
For the message, Messi explain say the decision no easy for am.
“After all the time wey don pass since the final, and after I don think about am well, I wan let everybody know say I don retire from the national team,” Messi write.
He say the decision “pain me and still dey pain me deep inside,” but he believe say na the correct time to close that chapter.
Messi also talk about the years wey Argentina suffer serious disappointment for major finals before the team finally begin to win trophies.
He say he don always give everything for Argentina and now e feel say e no get anything more to give. According to am, younger players wey dey come up need opportunity to represent the country.
Messi say he go miss hearing Argentina supporters from the pitch, but from now on, he go support the national team like every other fan.
Messi’s big records for Argentina
Messi dey leave Argentina as the player wey don play the highest number of matches for the country and also score the highest number of goals.
He play 207 matches and score 125 goals for Argentina.bbc+1
| Achievement | Messi’s record |
|---|---|
| Senior national-team debut | 2005 |
| Matches for Argentina | 207 |
| Goals for Argentina | 125 |
| World Cup tournaments | 6 |
| World Cup finals | 3 |
| World Cup titles | 1 |
| Copa América titles | 2 |
| Ballon d’Or awards | 8 |
Messi play for six World Cup tournaments — 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026. E also become only the second player, after Brazil’s Cafu, to play in three men’s World Cup finals. FIFA record say e be the oldest outfield player to feature for a World Cup final, at 39 years and 25 days.
But the final tournament of his Argentina career end with disappointment. Spain beat Argentina after Ferran Torres score the winning goal for the 106th minute. The defeat stop Messi from winning another World Cup after Argentina’s success for Qatar in 2022.
From pain to glory
Messi’s early years with Argentina no smooth at all. Even though e dey perform well, many Argentine fans and commentators criticise am because the national team fail to win major trophies.
Argentina lose the 2014 World Cup final to Germany. The country also lose the 2015 and 2016 Copa América finals to Chile.
After the 2016 Copa América defeat, Messi briefly announce say e don retire from international football. But e later change e mind and return to lead Argentina into the most successful period for the team’s modern history.
The breakthrough finally come for 2021, when Messi win him first major senior international trophy. Argentina defeat Brazil for the Copa América final.
The team later win the 2022 Finalissima and the 2022 World Cup for Qatar. Argentina defeat France for penalties after one dramatic 3–3 final.
For 2024, Messi again lead Argentina to Copa América victory. The 2022 World Cup win carry special meaning because e give Argentina their first world title since 1986 and complete the major international honour wey Messi never get before that time.
Argentina don lose captain and leader
Messi’s departure mean say Argentina don lose the player wey dey serve as captain, creative brain and main symbol of the national team for more than 20 years.
E no be only Messi’s goals and assists matter. He also dey connect the old generation wey experience many painful defeats with the new generation wey bring World Cup and Copa América glory.
Before Messi make the final announcement, Claudio Tapia, president of the Argentina Football Association, say na Messi alone get the right to decide when e wan stop playing for the country. Tapia urge people make dem allow the player enjoy football and choose the right time to leave.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni also leave the door open for Messi to continue after the World Cup. But with the Instagram message, Messi don make am clear say e international career don end.
The retirement go likely make Argentina begin full transition to younger players. Messi himself point to the young talents wey dey come and say dem deserve their chance inside the national team.
E never retire from football completely
Messi’s announcement concern only Argentina national team. E no mean say e don stop to play football altogether.
The superstar still dey expected to continue him club career with Inter Miami for Major League Soccer.
But for Argentina, the Messi era don officially close.
He dey leave as World Cup winner, two-time Copa América champion, the country’s highest goalscorer and most-capped player. Above all, Messi na the footballer wey turn years of disappointment into one of the greatest success stories for Argentina football.
