Lionel Messi announces Argentina retirement

Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from the Argentina national team, stepping away from the Albiceleste after more than two decades putting on the blue-and-white shirt.

"After the time that passed since the final, thinking about it a lot, I want to communicate to everyone that I am retiring from the national team," Messi wrote on Instagram.

"It was a decision that hurt and hurts in a soul, but I understand that this is the moment. I swear to you that I always gave everything, not just in the last few years when we won everything but before as well and I always fought and left everything on the field for this shirt, to give you all joys and make you feel proud to be Argentines through soccer."

Messi lifted the World Cup with Argentina in 2022 and recently pushed the team to a runner-up finish at the 2026 tournament. He also led Argentina to back-to-back wins at the Copa América in 2021 and 2024. Before that, Argentina hadn't won South America's continental championship since 1993.

He retires with 125 goals in 207 matches for Argentina. He scored 71 goals in 147 official matches, games that were part of a…

Original source: https://www.usatoday.com/sports/