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Tuesday, September 1, 2026 · UTC
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Messi Retires from Argentina National Team After 21-Year Career

Lionel Messi announced his retirement from the Argentina national team on August 31, 2026, following the World Cup final.

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Lionel Messi announced his retirement from the Argentina national team on August 31, 2026, via an Instagram post. [1] Argentina lost the 2026 World Cup final 1-0 to Spain at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. [2] Argentina won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on December 18, 2022, defeating France 3-3 in regular time and winning on penalties. [3] Messi recently played in the 2026 CONCACAF Nations Cup final against Spain, which Argentina lost 0-1. [4] Messi stated in his announcement that he loved the national team but has nothing left to give and that younger players deserve to be on the squad. [5] Messi's debut for the Argentina national team occurred on August 17, 2005, in a friendly match against Hungary at the Ferenc Puskás stadium in Budapest. [6] Messi scored his final international goal on July 7, 2026, in a 3-2 victory against Egypt in the round of 16. [7] Messi was the all-time top scorer for Argentina with 125 goals before retiring. [8] Argentina finished as runners-up in the 2026 World Cup before Messi's retirement. [9] Messi stated in his letter that he has played 207 matches for the team and that it is time to make way for new generations. [10] Argentina won the Copa América in July 2021, with Messi scoring the winning goal against Brazil. [11] Messi expressed that he has given everything for the team, including during the years before winning major titles. [12]
What this stands on
  1. Lionel Messi announced his retirement from the Argentina national team on August 31, 2026, via an Instagram post. · El Universo
  2. Argentina lost the 2026 World Cup final 1-0 to Spain at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford. · Agencia Andina
  3. Argentina won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar on December 18, 2022, defeating France 3-3 in regular time and winning on penalties. · El Colombiano
  4. Messi recently played in the 2026 CONCACAF Nations Cup final against Spain, which Argentina lost 0-1. · El Universo
  5. Messi stated in his announcement that he loved the national team but has nothing left to give and that younger players deserve to be on the squad. · El Universo
  6. Messi's debut for the Argentina national team occurred on August 17, 2005, in a friendly match against Hungary at the Ferenc Puskás stadium in Budapest. · El Universo
  7. Messi scored his final international goal on July 7, 2026, in a 3-2 victory against Egypt in the round of 16. · Agencia Andina
  8. Messi was the all-time top scorer for Argentina with 125 goals before retiring. · Agencia Andina
  9. Argentina finished as runners-up in the 2026 World Cup before Messi's retirement. · 24 Horas
  10. Messi stated in his letter that he has played 207 matches for the team and that it is time to make way for new generations. · 24 Horas
  11. Argentina won the Copa América in July 2021, with Messi scoring the winning goal against Brazil. · El Colombiano
  12. Messi expressed that he has given everything for the team, including during the years before winning major titles. · 24 Horas
We could not place any of them by their address. None is an official body: that part stands on reporting, not on the underlying document or transcript.
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