Buenos Aires, Aug. 31 -- Lionel Messi's retirement from international football is official. On August 31, 2026, Messi announced he is stepping away from the Argentina national team, closing out a 20-year international career just days after playing in his sixth and final World Cup.

"I love, loved, and will always love this team," Messi wrote in the announcement that spread across social media within minutes. "I have nothing more to give." For fans who have followed the Messi retirement storyline for years, the words confirmed what many had quietly expected but never wanted to hear.

Messi's Final World Cup Before Retirement Messi's international farewell played out at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, co-hosted across the United States, Mexico, a...