Lionel Messi has officially ended his international career with Argentina after more than two decades with the national team.The 39-year-old leaves as Argentinas all-time leading scorer, having scored 125 goals in 207 appearances for the Albiceleste.Messi made his senior Argentina debut on August 17, 2005, coming on as a substitute against Hungary in Budapest. He was sent off just two minutes after entering the game, but it marked the beginning of a remarkable international career.Messi confirmed his retirement in an emotional statement, saying he had given everything he had to the national team and felt he had nothing more to give.His international career reached its peak in the final years after years of disappointment on the international stage.He led Argentina to the 2021 Copa America title, defeating Brazil in the final to win his first major senior international trophy.A year later, Messi captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar, scoring seven goals and winning the Golden Ball as the tournaments best player.He added another major trophy in 2024 when Argentina retained the Copa America.Messi then made history by appearing at his sixth World Cup in 2026, leading Argentina to a second consecutive final before bringing his international career to an end.After 21 years, 125 goals and three major senior international trophies, Messi leaves Argentina as one of the greatest players in the history of the national team.
