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Lionel Messi has retired from international football, drawing the curtain on his Argentina career after missing out in the World Cup final in July.

Widely regarded as perhaps the greatest player of all time, Messi had hoped to guide Argentina to successive tournament titles, but his side were beaten 1-0 by Spain after extra time.

The 39-year-old played 207 matches for his country, the second-highest total by any men’s international footballer, and scored 125 goals during a career that lasted more than two decades.

Messi has now brought his international career to a close.

He disclosed that he had made the decision to retire two days after Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the World Cup final on 19 July, but postponed making the announcement public.

In August, Messi’s father Jorge Messi died at the age of 68 following a long illness, after the Argentina captain had returned to action for his club Inter Miami after the World Cup.

“After the time that has passed since the final, and after thinking about it a great deal, I want to tell everyone that I am retiring from the national team,” Messi said.

“It was a decision that hurt — and still hurts deep down — but I understand that the time has come,” he added.

He went on: “I’ve given everything I had; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some excellent young players coming through who deserve to be here.”

Messi’s defining moment with Argentina came in 2022, when he captained his country to their third World Cup title after a dramatic win over France in Qatar.

After making his senior debut for Argentina in 2005 at the age of 18, Messi also led the team to the 2014 World Cup final, where they lost to Germany after extra time in Brazil.

Messi had previously retired from Argentina duty in 2016, aged 29, after suffering a fourth straight major final defeat with his country following the loss to Chile in the Copa America final.

He later returned and eventually won a first major senior title with Argentina at the 2021 Copa America. That triumph was followed by the World Cup and then another Copa America in 2024.

Messi ended his long wait to win the World Cup in 2022.

He also celebrated with his team-mates after Argentina’s 3-2 win over Egypt at World Cup 2026.

The forward ends his career as the second-highest World Cup goalscorer behind Kylian Mbappe, after both players moved past Miroslav Klose’s record total during the tournament.

An eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and a Barcelona legend, Messi has continued to play for Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, and scored four goals in a 7-1 victory over Montreal on Saturday.

But Messi said he “did not know how to carry on” after the death of his father Jorge. He had also said earlier that Argentina’s defeat to Spain caused him “immense pain”.

The Argentina team said: “Eternal thanks, Leo. We’ll love you until the end of our days.”

“After the time that has passed since the final, and after thinking about it a great deal, 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 everything — not only in these last few years when we won everything, but before that as well; I always fought and left everything on the pitch for this shirt, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.

“Time is running short, chapters come to an end, and this is one that hurts me deeply. I love, have loved, and always will love being part of the national team. I’ve given everything I had; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some excellent young players coming through who deserve to be here.

“Thank you for all the affection over these past 20 years. I will miss hearing you from the pitch so much. Now I will be just one of you, cheering and supporting from the outside, through the good times and the bad — especially the bad.

“Thank you to my family for always being there, for accompanying me on this journey — so beautiful, yet so difficult. Thank you to every coach, team-mate and official with whom I have shared this path. I will take away unforgettable memories and moments.

“I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you — alongside my team-mates — moments we once only dreamed of. It was an incredible experience to live this with all of you. I love you! Thank you, God, for making me Argentine. Come on, Argentina!

“PS - I wrote these words on 21 July, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my dad, I am even more convinced than before.”