Messi leaves the Argentine national team, 21 years later
Football star Lionel Messi announced this Monday his farewell to the Argentine national team, a month and 12 days after the 2026 World Cup final lost to Spain 0-1. The decision was made two days after that final and was communicated through a post on social media.
Messi, 39 years old, retires from the national team as the record holder for goals and assists, completing a journey of 21 years with the Argentine national team. In his message, the player wrote that, after much reflection since the final, he wanted to communicate to everyone his decision to retire from the national team.
His father's death reportedly gave Messi even more certainty about this decision, according to the information reported. With this announcement, an era ends in Argentine football, with the farewell of one of the greatest legends of world sport.
