Lionel Messi announced on Monday, August 31, his retirement from the Argentina national team in an Instagram post showing a handwritten notebook entry. Messi revealed he decided to retire just two days after the 1-0 loss in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final to Spain, but the passing of his father Jorge Messi on August 8 reaffirmed his thought process. He now closes a chapter with la Albiceleste after more than 20 years.

World Cup Triumph and Historic Achievements

Since his international debut in 2005, Messi has given supporters reasons to cheer, endless moments of joy and trophies that will shape his legacy forever. He captained the Argentina national team to a World Cup trophy, two Copa América titles, an Olympic gold medal and a Finalissima title to become one of the most emblematic players to sport the crest.

2022 marked a major year when Argentina won the World Cup in Qatar. Everyone recalls the moment Messi fell to his knees when Gonzalo Montiel scored the winning penalty against France to crown Argentina as 2022 World Cup champions. Messi played an integral part for Argentina in the final, scoring two goals in regular time and the first penalty of the shootout to secure the win. After representing the national team for more than 15 years, he achieved the ultimate victory.

2026 was also historic as Messi became the top goal scorer in men’s World Cup history; many wondered how Messi would perform at the 2026 World Cup at the age of 39.

Early Career and Key Rivalries

A story that started with a rush to schedule a U-20 friendly and make sure Messi didn’t have his head turned by Spain ended up lasting more than two decades. From that moment until his official retirement from the national team on Monday, Aug. 31, he played in six World Cup tournaments, won the Olympic gold medal and also delivered huge goals in various editions of the Copa América, South America’s continental championship, in World Cup qualification matches and other moments with the Albiceleste needed him.

There are plenty of moments to choose from — more than 120 goals, numerous wins and, of course, those trophy lifts, as One of the most memorable was a 2012 friendly against Brazil. Messi scored one of the best goals in his Argentina career with the score knotted at three goals each. He took the ball near the halfway stripe, beat a defender on the sideline, shifted to his left foot as he got past another player in a yellow shirt and lashed home a goal from outside the box. It was his third goal of the match, completed the hat trick and sending the Albiceleste home with a 4-3 win over their South American neighbor.

Messi’s journey wearing the Albiceleste shirt is an epic tale made up of resilience, pain, and absolute glory, and On August 17, 2005, an 18-year-old Messi made his senior national team debut in a friendly against Hungary in Budapest. Just 47 seconds after coming on in the second half, he was shown a straight red card for swinging an arm after having his shirt pulled. A rocky start that came before his era of brilliance.

Coach Maradona and the 2021 Copa América

At the 2010 World Cup, Leo arrived in what was perhaps the best moment of his career at FC Barcelona, and the meeting with Diego Armando Maradona as coach of the Argentine national team marked a before and after in his career. The Maracanã witnessed the end of the Albiceleste’s 28-year title drought. By beating Brazil 1-0 in the 2021 Copa América final, Messi lifted his first official trophy with the senior national team, a success he later repeated in the 2024 edition.

Despite his historic career, Messi once again tasted bitterness in a decisive clash, but In the World Cup final played at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Argentina fell 1-0 after extra time to Lamine Yamal’s Spain. It was his second defeat in a World Cup final after the one in 2014, marking a sad chapter but also one of enormous pride and collective effort.