Lionel Messi has officially retired from the Argentina national team after 20 years. Messi has officially called time on his legendary international career with Argentina with 207 caps, and 125 goals.
The 39-year-old icon released an emotional statement confirming he is stepping away, acknowledging that a new generation of talent is ready to step up and take over.
Messi revealed that he wrote the initial message on July 21 following the World Cup final, and recent personal events further confirmed his final decision to hang up his international shirt for good.
Messi said “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… It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep inside, but I understand that this is the right moment,” Messi shared.
He added: “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. Also, there are great young players coming through who deserve to be here.”
”I love, I loved, and I will always love being part of the national team,” Messi said. “I gave everything I had, and I don’t have anything more to give.”
While his journey with the national team comes to an official close, Messi will continue playing club football with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
