Lionel Messi has officially retired from Argentina’s national soccer team, closing a storied international career that spanned 193 games, 118 goals, and six titles, including the 2022 World Cup. He announced the decision through a heartfelt letter and video message shared on social media.
According to the Argentine newspaper La Nación, part of the same media alliance as this outlet, Messi had already hinted at his departure after the World Cup but only recently made it official. The 38-year-old forward, who plays for Inter Miami, had acknowledged that his body could no longer keep up with the demands of international soccer, a realization that deepened after the recent death of his father, Jorge, just over three weeks ago. “Now I have doubts about whether I’ll keep playing soccer much longer,” he had admitted at the time.
Beyond his physical toll, Messi’s exit reflects a broader transition within the Argentine squad, which is entering a rebuilding phase ahead of the 2030 World Cup — a tournament Argentina has already qualified for as a co-host. With coach Lionel Scaloni’s future also uncertain, the next official competition for the team may not come until the 2028 Copa América, making the wait too long for Messi to justify continuing.
“I emptied myself out; I have nothing left to give,” Messi said, adding that a new generation of players deserves its turn. Read the full story at El Tiempo.
Image: Muhammad غفّاري, BY 2.0 (via Openverse).