India, Aug. 31 -- Lionel Messi has declared his retirement from the Argentina national team, stating that the passing of his father has reinforced his belief that it is time to conclude his international career.

The captain of Argentina shared his decision in a heartfelt statement, mentioning that he had been contemplating retirement since the nation's 1-0 loss to Spain in the final of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on July 19.

Messi expressed that the decision brought him significant anguish, yet he affirmed that he believed it was time to depart from the national team.

"It was a decision that hurt and still hurts in my soul, but I understand that this is the moment," Messi said.

The 39-year-old emphasized that he had consistently devoted h...