When Lionel Messi walked off the field for Argentina following the World Cup final loss to Spain, there was the real possibility that he would never wear that kit for Argentina again. His emotional reaction made that clear.
On Monday, the 39-year-old soccer legend made it official as he announced his retirement from the Argentina national team. He will continue to play club soccer for Inter Miami in MLS.
While the chances of a 43-year-old Messi playing for Argentina at the 2030 World Cup seemed slim, Messi could have continued with Argentina for the beginning stage of the World Cup cycle. He could have gotten a send-off match in front of home supporters. But the death of Messi's father, Jorge Messi, on August 8 made Lionel realize that now was
the time to step away.
He posted a retirement announcement on Instagram to explain the decision.
What Messi said of his decision
Messi wrote, translated to English:
After the time that has passed since the final, and after giving it a lot of thought, I want to let everyone know that I am retiring from the National Team…
It was a decision that hurt—and still hurts deep down—but I understand that the time has come. I swear to you that I always gave it my all—not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too; I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.
Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply. I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the National Team. I’ve given everything I had; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming up who deserve to be here.
Thank you for all the affection over these past 20 years. I will miss hearing you from the pitch so much. Now I’ll be just one of you, cheering and supporting from the outside (through the good times and the bad—especially the bad).
Thank you to my family for always being there, for accompanying me on this journey—so beautiful, yet so difficult. Thank you to every coach, teammate, and official I’ve shared this path with. I take with me unforgettable memories and moments.
I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you—alongside my teammates—moments we once only dreamed of. It was an incredible experience to live this with you all. I love you!
Thank you, God, for making me Argentine.
Let's go, Argentina!
*I wrote these words on July 21st, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my dad, I am even more convinced than before.
Messi had retired from the Argentina national team before and later returned. But this time, he intends for that decision to be final.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Why Lionel Messi decided to retire from the Argentina national team
