Eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi has officially announced his withdrawal from matches for the Argentina national football team. The 39-year-old forward shared this news via his Instagram account, emphasizing that although the decision to leave the national team was difficult, it was necessary at this time.
Currently, Messi plays for the American club Inter Miami, where he joined in 2023. Previously, he played in Europe for French PSG and Spanish Barcelona. With Barcelona, he won the Champions League four times, as well as three UEFA Super Cups and the Club World Cup title.
For the Argentina national team, the forward achieved significant success: he became world champion in 2022, twice won silver at the World Cups in 2014 and 2026, won the Olympic title in 2008, and twice won the Copa América in 2021 and 2024.
Throughout his career with the national team, Messi played 207 games and scored 125 goals, setting national records in both categories. He also participated in six World Cups. It is worth noting that in 2016, after losing the Copa América final, he had already expressed his intention to leave the national team, but later returned to the squad two months later.