Football legend says painful decision was the right time to make way for a new generation…reports Asian Lite News Desk
Lionel Messi on Monday announced his retirement from international football, bringing the curtain down on a glittering 20-year career with Argentina that saw him win the FIFA World Cup and two Copa América titles.
The 39-year-old confirmed his decision in an emotional statement posted on Instagram, saying the time had come to step away from the national team after a career spanning two decades and a record 207 appearances for Argentina.
“After all this time since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to let everyone know that I am retiring from the national team,” Messi wrote.
The Argentine great said the decision had been painful but insisted he felt it was the right moment to close one of the most important chapters of his career.
“It was a decision that hurt, and still hurts deeply, but I understand that this is the right time,” Messi said, adding that he had always given everything for the Argentina shirt.
Messi made his senior international debut in 2005 and endured years of heartbreak before finally reaching the pinnacle of world football by leading Argentina to the World Cup title in 2022. He also helped his country win two Copa América crowns.
The latest World Cup final defeat to Spain in July proved a significant moment in his decision-making, Messi said. He revealed that he had initially written his retirement message shortly after the final, while the subsequent death of his father, Jorge, made him even more certain that it was time to step away.
Messi also cited the emergence of a new generation of Argentine players as a reason for his departure.
“There are some great young players coming through who deserve their opportunity,” he said.
Thanking Argentina’s supporters, family, coaches, teammates and officials, Messi said he would cherish the memories of his international career forever.
“I will miss hearing you from inside the stadium very much. Now I will be one of you, always supporting and cheering from the outside,” he said.
While ending his international career, Messi will continue playing club football with Inter Miami, where he remains under contract until 2028.
His departure marks the end of an extraordinary Argentina journey that transformed him from a young prodigy into one of the most decorated and celebrated players in football history.
