Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international footballfootball after nearly 20 years in action.
The legendary No. 10 leaves the national team with 207 appearances and 125 goals, making him Argentina’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player.Messi’s international journey was not always filled with glory. He suffered painful defeats in the 2014 FIFA World Cup final and the 2015 and 2016 Copa América finals. After losing the 2016 Copa América final, he even briefly retired from international football before returning to lead Argentina again.
His perseverance eventually brought historic success. Messi won the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where he scored seven goals and won the Golden Ball. He later lifted another Copa América in 2024.In the just concluded FIFA world cup in USA, Messi and Argentina finished as the runners up to Spain after messi delivered 8 goals and 4 assists in 8 games.After years of heartbreak, Messi leaves Argentina as a champion, record-breaker and unforgettable football icon.
