Messi’s 10 most iconic moments as Argentina legend retires from int'l football
Argentine football legend Lionel Messi has officially announced his retirement from international football at the age of 39. His career concludes following a decorated tenure that included winning the 2022 World Cup and multiple Copa America titles.
Why it matters
Messi is widely considered one of the greatest athletes in history, and his retirement marks the end of a transformative era for international football.
Lionel Messi has finally closed the book on his extraordinary Argentina career.At 39, after nearly two decades wearing the famous blue-and-white shirt, Messi has announced his retirement from international football, ending a journey that took him from a teenage debutant in 2005 to Argentina captain and World Cup-winning legend. He leaves after six World Cups, two Copa America titles and the greatest prize of all — the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. He also led Argentina to the 2026 World Cup final, where they lost to Spain.Messi's international career was not always the fairytale it became. There were lost finals, criticism and even a brief retirement from international football in 2016. But the final chapter transformed his legacy, with Argentina winning the Copa America in 2021, the 2022 World Cup and another Copa America in 2024.
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