This article was originally published on Malawi24 ">Malawi24, Malawi's #1 independent news platform. Argentina forward and captain, Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football after 21 years of serving the national team Read the full article and more Malawi news at Messi calls time on Argentina career after 21 years ">Malawi24 — Breaking news, politics, business, sport and entertainment from Malawi and Africa, updated 24/7.
Lionel Messi has brought down the curtain on his Argentina career, ending one of the most celebrated international careers in football history.
The 39-year-old announced his retirement from international football on Monday, saying he believes the time has come to make way for a new generation.
He made the announcement in a social media post, marking the end of an era for one of the greatest players in football history.
The 39-year-old made his Argentina debut in 2005 and went on to become the country’s most-capped player and all-time leading goalscorer.
During his international career, Messi won several major honours with Argentina, including the Copa América in 2021, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and another Copa América title in 2024.
His World Cup triumph in Qatar was a particularly significant achievement after years of near misses with the national team.
Messi also led Argentina to the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, where they lost 1-0 to Spain after extra time.
Despite ending his international career, Messi is expected to continue playing club football with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
His retirement brings to a close a remarkable chapter in Argentine football, with Messi leaving the national team as its record appearance holder and top scorer.
