Argentina star Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football.
In a post on Instagram, the Inter Miami forward, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, said it was a "decision that hurt" but that he knew it was the right time to stand down from the national side.
"I swear to you that I’ve always given it my all - not just in recent years, but in the past as well - and I’ve always fought hard and given everything I had for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you proud to be Argentine through football," he wrote, while also thanking fans and his family for their support over the years.
"I’ve given it my all; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some really talented young players coming up who deserve their spots," he added.
The decision comes shortly after the death of his father, Jorge Messi, which prompted the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain player to consider his future.
Having won almost everything at club level, a major international honour appeared to be in danger of slipping by the Argentine maestro.
However, he went on to help Argentina win back-to-back Copa América's in 2021 and 2024, while the crowning jewel of his career came in 2022, when he lifted the World Cup trophy in Qatar following a dramatic penalty shootout victory over France.
Messi almost doubled his World Cup trophy tally at the 2026 edition of the tournament, which was held across the US, Canada, and Mexico, leading Argentina all the way to the final. They eventually finished runners up after being beaten 1-0 by Spain.
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