There was a feeling that the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America might be the final time that Lionel Messi suited up for Argentina.
Of course, the Inter Miami star led his Argentina squad to the final before losing to Spain. But now that run is over, as the superstar has decided to retire from international play. Below are Messi’s finishes in the World Cup over the years:
- 2006 (Germany): Reached the quarterfinals (eliminated by Germany), 3 appearances, 1 goal.
- 2010 (South Africa): Reached the quarterfinals (eliminated by Germany), 5 appearances, 0 goals, 1 assist.
- 2014 (Brazil): Finished as runner-up (lost to Germany in the final), 7 appearances, 4 goals, 1 assist, Golden Ball winner.
- 2018 (Russia): Reached the round of 16 (eliminated by France), 4 appearances, 1 goal, 2 assists.
- 2022 (Qatar): Won the World Cup (defeated France in the final), 7 appearances, 7 goals, 3 assists, Golden Ball winner.
- 2026 (Canada/Mexico/USA): Finished as runner-up (lost to Spain in the final), 7 appearances, 8 goals, 4 assists, Silver Ball winner.
Below is the Instagram post where Messi made the announcement official:
Now that some time has passed since the final, after giving
it a lot of thought, I want to let you all know that I’m retiring from the national team…
It was a decision that hurt—and still hurts—deep in my soul, but I understand that the time has come. I swear to you that I always gave it my all—not just in recent years, but back when we won everything as well—and I always fought hard and gave everything I had for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you proud to be Argentine through soccer.
There’s not much time left, and chapters are coming to a close—and this is one that hurts me deeply. I love, have loved, and will always love being on the national team. I’ve given it my all; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some truly great young players coming up who deserve their spots.
Thank you for all the love over these past 20 years. I’m going to miss hearing you from the field so much. Now I’ll be just one of you, always cheering and supporting from the sidelines (through the good times and the bad—especially the bad ones).
Thank you to my family for always being there, for accompanying me on this beautiful yet difficult journey. Thank you to every coach, teammate, and official I’ve had the privilege of sharing this journey with. I take with me unforgettable memories and moments.
I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you—together with my teammates—moments we’d only dreamed of. It was incredible to have experienced this with you all. I love you!
Thank you, God, for making me Argentine.
Go Argentina!
*I wrote these words on July 21, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my dad, I’m even more convinced than before.
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