Lionel Messi retires from international soccer

Legendary soccer star Lionel Messi, who led Argentina to the last two FIFA Men’s World Cup finals, has retired from the Argentine national soccer team.

Messi, 39, announced his decision Monday via a post on his Instagram account, @leomessi.

“It was a painful decision that hurt in my soul, but I understand that it is time,” he wrote in Spanish on Instagram. “I swear that I always left everything, not only in these last years when everything was won but before I always fought and I left everything for my jersey to give you joy and to make you proud to be Argentine through soccer.”

World Cup excellence

Messi left at a good time while he is still somewhat on top of his game. There’s no doubt that he left every ounce he had on the pitch this last World Cup.

You can’t ask for anything else. It was a joy watching him play in person or on television.

After leading Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title, Messi led Argentina to the 2026 World Cup final against eventual champion Spain.

Lionel Messi represented La Albiceleste for 21 years. He made his World Cup debut in 2006.

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He owns the all-time World Cup scoring record with 21 goals and 12 assists over 34 games. Messi won the Golden Ball as the Most Valuable Player at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, scoring four goals in seven games.

He won the Golden Ball again in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar while leading Argentina to the title. He scored seven goals with three assists over seven games, helping Argentina lift the Cup in the final over France.

Messi arguably had his best World Cup of his career this summer at 38 years old, scoring eight goals with four assists over eight games.

Lionel Messi copes with loss

He scored 125 goals over 207 appearances for La Albiceste, rivaling the late Diego Maradona as the greatest soccer players in Argentina history.

Moreover, some would put Messi on par with Brazilian legend Pele, Maradona and Cristiano Ronaldo as the greatest soccer players of all time.

Messi says he wrote his hand-written letter two days after Spain beat Argentina in the World Cup final at New York-New Jersey Stadium in July.

Since that defeat, he has suffered the loss of his father.

“Today since the death of my father,” he said, “I’m more convinced than before.”