An era has officially come to an end.

Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, bringing the curtain down on one of the greatest careers in the history of the sport.

The 39-year-old Argentine superstar confirmed his decision on Monday, August 31, approximately six weeks after Argentina fell 1-0 to Spain in extra time in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.

Messi leaves the national team after more than 20 years wearing the famous blue and white shirt — a journey filled with heartbreak, criticism, redemption and, ultimately, glory.

From Heartbreak to World Champion

For much of Messi’s career, there was one question that followed him everywhere:

Could he win a major trophy with Argentina?

Despite becoming arguably the greatest club footballer of his generation, Messi experienced years of disappointment with his country.

Argentina lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany before suffering consecutive Copa América final defeats to Chile in 2015 and 2016.

After the 2016 loss, a devastated Messi briefly announced his retirement from international football.

Thankfully for Argentina, he came back.

And what followed completely transformed his international legacy.

Messi finally lifted his first major senior trophy with Argentina at the 2021 Copa América, defeating Brazil at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro.

Then came Qatar.

In 2022, Messi led Argentina to its first World Cup championship since 1986, producing one of the greatest individual tournament performances in World Cup history and finally lifting the trophy that had eluded him throughout his career.

Argentina followed that by winning another Copa América in 2024.

One Last World Cup Run

At 39 years old, Messi returned for one final World Cup in 2026.

Argentina entered the tournament as defending champions and once again reached the final, giving Messi an opportunity to finish his international career by winning consecutive World Cups.

It wasn’t to be.

Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final, denying Messi the fairytale ending.

But by then, there was very little left for him to prove.

Messi leaves international football as a World Cup champion, a two-time Copa América champion and one of the greatest players ever to represent Argentina.

He also appeared in three World Cup finals during his career.

From Questioned to Beloved

Perhaps the most remarkable part of Messi’s Argentina story is how dramatically it changed.

For years, he was compared relentlessly with Diego Maradona.

Some Argentine supporters questioned why the quiet kid from Rosario appeared to dominate European football with Barcelona but couldn’t deliver the same trophies for his country.

There were even periods when his connection to Argentina was questioned because he had moved to Barcelona at just 13 years old.

By the end, those conversations had disappeared.

The 2021 Copa América changed everything.

The 2022 World Cup made him immortal.

Messi went from being the superstar Argentina constantly questioned to the captain an entire generation of Argentines celebrated.

Gracias, Leo

Messi made his senior Argentina debut as an 18-year-old in 2005.

More than two decades later, he leaves as Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer and one of the most decorated players ever to wear the national team’s shirt.

There will always be debates about the greatest footballer of all time.

Pelé.

Maradona.

Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi.

But his place in Argentine history is no longer up for debate.

The kid from Rosario who spent years chasing Argentina’s biggest trophy eventually lifted the World Cup above his head.

And now, after more than 20 years, Lionel Messi’s journey with La Albiceleste is over.

Gracias, Leo.