Messi’s First Argentina Retirement Preceded International Football’s Glorious Years

Lionel Messi said he will stop playing international football for Argentina.

He shared the news in a long statement on social media.

He said he wrote it after the 2026 World Cup final but waited to publish it.

The death of his father and longtime agent, Jorge, helped lead to his decision.

Messi is 39 years old in this account.

He has won almost every important trophy available to him, including the World Cup.

This was not his first retirement announcement.

Ten years earlier, he retired after Argentina lost three major finals in a row, but later returned and enjoyed highly successful years with the national team.