Joselito Malig

(FILES) Argentina's forward #10 Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his second goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Argentina and Venezuela at the Mas Monumental stadium in Buenos Aires on September 4, 2025. Argentine football player Lionel Messi said on August 31, 2026, he is retiring from international football after leading Argentina to a second successive World Cup final. (Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP)

Article (news)

Agence France-Presse

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1788190676548FilesFblArgMessi (1).jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Argentina&#x27;s forward #10 Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his second goal during the 2026 FIFA World Cup South American qualifiers football match between Argentina and Venezuela in Buenos Aires on September 4, 2025.  LLuis Robayo/AFP/file</div>Lionel Messi said on Monday he is retiring from international football after leading Argentina to a second successive World Cup final in July.&quot;It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul but I understand that it is the right time,&quot; Messi, 39, wrote on Instagram.&quot;I swear I always gave everything, not just in the last few years when we won everything but before that too, and I always fought and gave my all for this shirt,&quot; he added.Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory by winning the 2022 final against France in a penalty shootout in Doha, but his side lost 1-0 to Spain in the 2026 final.Following the death of his father Jorge in August, Messi had said he had &quot;serious doubts&quot; about continuing to play football of any sort for &quot;much longer&quot;.Messi&#x27;s contract with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami runs until the end of the 2028 season.

Lionel Messi said on Monday he is retiring from international football after leading Argentina to a second successive World Cup final in July.

Lionel Messi said on Monday he is retiring from international football after leading Argentina to a second successive World Cup final in July.

Lionel Messi says retiring from international football

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Lionel Messi says retiring from international football

Agence France-Presse

Published August 31, 2026 11:38 PM PHT

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