Lionel Messi has officially closed the book on his international career. The 39-year-old announced Monday that he is retiring from the Argentina national team, roughly six weeks after La Albiceleste’s heartbreaking 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. He announced the news on social media.

In an emotional Instagram statement, Messi revealed he wrote the goodbye letter two days after the final but held off sharing it.

“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.”

He added, “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 lived through it all with you.”

The road wasn’t always smooth. Messi briefly announced his international retirement in 2016 after a penalty-shootout loss to Chile in the Copa América final, only to reverse course weeks later following an outpouring of support from fans.

Reaction to Monday’s news was immediate and wide-ranging — tributes calling him the reason fans tuned in for every Argentina match, alongside more skeptical and critical voices questioning the timing and circumstances surrounding the announcement. “From heartbreak to becoming a World Cup champion. What an incredible international career,” wrote one fan. “If this is truly the end of Messi’s international career, it closes one of the greatest chapters in football history. An unforgettable legacy,” wrote another.

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