Goa, Aug. 31 -- Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, bringing an end to his career with the Argentina national team. The football superstar made the announcement on Monday, August 31, saying he had decided to step away after reflecting deeply on the events that followed Argentina's World Cup final defeat to Spain.

Messi revealed that the decision was made just two days after the World Cup final loss. The death of his father later became a major factor in his decision to end his international career. For a player whose career has been defined by his commitment to Argentina, Messi described the choice as deeply painful but ultimately necessary.

In a statement shared through his official Instagram account,...