Messi Retires: A Look at His Achievements and Records with Argentina

Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football after more than 20 years. His journey started with Argentina’s U-20 team and ended with him as the captain of the senior national team.

Messi made the announcement on Monday. He said he has given his best to his country and has “nothing more to give.” He shared that he made this decision shortly after the 2026 World Cup final and felt more certain after his father's death.

Here is a list of his major achievements and some unwanted records with La Albiceleste.

Major Achievements and Records

• Three major titles: Led Argentina to the 2021 Copa América, 2022 FIFA World Cup, and 2024 Copa América titles.
• Goal involvement: Directly involved in 185 goals across 207 matches, scoring 125 goals and providing 60 assists.
• Dominant left foot: Scored over 110 of his 125 international goals with his left foot.
• Most World Cups played: Featured in six World Cup tournaments, a record no other player has matched.
• World Cup contributions: Holds the records for most World Cup appearances (34), most matches won (23), most assists (12), and most goals scored from outside the penalty area (six).
• Three World Cup finals started: One of the few players to start in three World Cup finals, 2014, 2022, and 2026.
• Oldest outfield player in a World Cup final: Aged 39 years and 25 days in the 2026 final.
• Most major-tournament goals: Scored 35 goals across the World Cup, Copa América, and other continental competitions.
• 11 international hat-tricks: Scored 11 hat-tricks for Argentina, including one in Argentina’s opening match of the 2026 World Cup.
• World Cup goals: Scored 21 goals, briefly holding the all-time men’s record during the 2026 tournament before Kylian Mbappé surpassed him with 22 goals.

Unwanted Records and Low Points

• World Cup penalties: Messi has scored seven World Cup penalties and missed three. He is the first player in World Cup history to miss two penalties in a single edition (2026), excluding shootouts.
• Disastrous debut: Made his Argentina debut as a substitute against Hungary on August 17, 2005, and was sent off within a minute after elbowing Vilmos Vanczák.
• Second international retirement: Previously announced his retirement from international football after Argentina’s loss to Chile in the 2016 Copa América final before changing his mind.
• No perfect farewell: His international career ended with a World Cup final defeat instead of a fourth major title.

Messi’s career with Argentina began with a red card and ended without the perfect ending. Yet, the trophies, personal records, and his leadership of a talented group leave behind a remarkable legacy.