Lionel Messi has announced he is retiring from the Argentina national team. He said he has "nothing more to give" after a 20-year international career.
The Argentina captain shared the news in an emotional letter on his Instagram reel on Monday. He revealed he made the decision shortly after the final match and felt even more sure of it after his father's death.
Messi stated, "After all this time since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to tell everyone that I’m retiring from the national team."
He admitted this decision was painful but felt it was time to end his international career.
"It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep inside, but I understand that this is the right moment," Messi said.
At 39 years old, he emphasized that he always gave his best for Argentina, even during tough times before recent victories.
"I swear I always gave everything, not only in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too," he shared.
Messi added, "I always fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you happiness and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football."
He reflected on the time passing, saying, "There isn’t much time left, and different chapters are coming to an end. This is one that hurts me a lot."
Messi expressed his love for the national team, saying, "I love, I loved, and I will always love being part of the national team. I gave everything I had, and I don’t have anything more to give."
He also mentioned the younger players coming up who deserve a chance to represent Argentina.
"Also, there are great young players coming through who deserve to be here," Messi said.
Looking back on his two decades with the national team, he thanked supporters for their loyalty. He promised to keep supporting the team even after stepping down.
"Thank you for all the love during these 20 years. I’m going to miss hearing you from the inside. Now I’ll be one of you, always supporting from the outside, in the good times and even more in the bad ones," he said.
Messi also expressed his gratitude to his family, coaches, teammates, and directors who stood by him throughout his international journey.
He said he leaves with "peace and pride," recalling unforgettable moments with his teammates and fans.
"I leave with peace and pride, knowing that together with my teammates we gave you moments we once dreamed of. It was crazy to experience all of this with you. I love you!" he said.
Messi wrapped up his statement by thanking God for making him Argentine, signing off with, "Vamos Argentina!"
He noted that he originally wrote this statement on July 21, two days after the final.
"Today, after what happened with my dad, I’m even more convinced of this decision than before," he added.
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