Argentina captain Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, bringing to an end one of the most celebrated national-team careers in the history of the sport.
The Rosario-born forward steps away after a remarkable spell with Argentina, during which he captained his country across multiple World Cups and continental tournaments and ultimately led the national team to football’s biggest honours.
Messi’s departure closes a defining era for La Albiceleste, with the forward having been at the centre of the national team for more than two decades.
After experiencing a series of painful defeats earlier in his international career, Messi eventually enjoyed unprecedented success as captain, transforming the final years of his Argentina journey into its most triumphant period.
His retirement leaves Argentina facing the challenge of beginning a new international cycle without the player who has been the focal point of the team for a generation.
For supporters in Argentina, the announcement also marks the end of an extraordinary relationship between Messi and the national side — one that evolved from years of intense scrutiny and disappointment into a period of historic success.
Messi’s departure from international football brings down the curtain on a career that established him as one of the most influential and decorated players ever to represent a national team.