Off the PitchThe GuardianUnverified source· 31 Aug 2026
Messi retires from international football
Argentina's greatest player calls it quits after a heartbreaking World Cup final loss.
L. Messi
player
Caps
207
Debut
2005
Titles
World Cup 2022, two Copa Américas
What happened. Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international duty with Argentina, effective immediately.
- His last game was the World Cup final.
- He was a runner-up in 2014 and this summer.
- His father Jorge passed away earlier in August.
“This hurts me a lot”
— Lionel Messi
Messi leaves Argentina's national team after a storied career, ending an era for the Albiceleste.
Read the full story at The Guardian →
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