Lionel Messi has officially announced his retirement from the Argentina national team. On August 31, 2026, Messi posted a handwritten letter on Instagram expressing his intention to leave the national team, and international media independently confirmed the same information.
Key Change
Messi said that retiring from the national team was a painful decision, but that the time had come. In his letter, he explained that he had given everything to the team, had nothing more to give, and that younger players were waiting to take over.
Messi’s announcement concerns his involvement with the Argentina national team, not retirement from football altogether.
He announced his retirement after Argentina lost to Spain in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. However, the retirement letter was written on July 21, two days after the final, and said that his resolve had become firmer following the death of his father.
Current Status
Official Argentine Football Association materials identify Messi as the leading scorer in the history of the national team and state that, according to 2026 data, he had recorded 116 goals in 198 appearances. This announcement brings his long national-team career to a close.
His club contract with Inter Miami, by contrast, remains separate. According to an official Inter Miami announcement, Messi’s contract was extended through the end of the 2028 MLS season. Therefore, his retirement from the national team does not mean that he is leaving Inter Miami.
Impact
The announcement could be connected to a generational transition for Argentina, but the first post-retirement squad list and specific follow-up match schedule have not yet been confirmed in these materials. Argentina’s next steps should be verified through official announcements from the Argentine Football Association.
The key distinctions for readers are:
- Messi’s announcement concerns the Argentina national team.
- The decision followed a process that began after the World Cup final and included a personal loss.
- His contract with Inter Miami runs through the end of the 2028 MLS season.
What to Check Next
Further announcements about Argentina’s first squad list and match schedule after Messi’s retirement should be checked on the AFA’s official national-team page. Messi’s club activities and contract status can likewise be verified through official announcements from Inter Miami.
Sources and verification time: Lionel Messi Instagram post (https://www.instagram.com/p/DctWzhYxElg/), Reuters republished article (https://noticias.uol.com.br/ultimas-noticias/reuters/2026/08/31/messi-anuncia-aposentadoria-da-selecao-argentina.amp.htm), AP report (https://www.latimes.com/espanol/deportes/articulo/2026-08-31/messi-anuncia-su-retiro-de-la-seleccion-argentina-tras-20-anos-de-carrera), official AFA record (https://www.afa.com.ar/A/posts/lionel-messi-lleva-115-goles-con-la-seleccion-argentina-y-es-el-maximo-artillero-de-la-historia-de-la-albiceleste), and official Inter Miami announcement (https://www.intermiamicf.com/news/inter-miami-cf-signs-leo-messi-to-contract-extension). All checked around 18:00:10 UTC on August 31, 2026.