An era defined by pure genius comes to an end as Lionel Messi officially announces his retirement from international duty with Argentina.
Reflecting on his emotional departure after 20 years with La Albiceleste, the maestro shared: “I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you, alongside my teammates, moments we once only dreamed of… Thank you, God, for making me Argentine.”
During his two decades representing the national team, Messi scored a stunning 125 goals and provided 65 assists across 207 international appearances. He shattered virtually every individual record in South American football history, cementing his spot as the top international goalscorer in CONMEBOL history and trailing only Cristiano Ronaldo and Ali Daei on the global all-time men’s scoring list.
Honors and Achievements
2022 FIFA World Cup
The defining pinnacle of his international legacy saw Messi lead Argentina to their third world title in Qatar, scoring seven goals, including two in the iconic final and earning the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.
Back-to-Back Copa América (2021, 2024)
Messi ended Argentina’s 28-year senior trophy drought in 2021 by defeating Brazil at the Maracanã, followed by a successful defense of the continental title in 2024 to solidify La Albiceleste’s dominance over South America.
2022 CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions (Finalissima)
Messi orchestrated a masterclass performance at Wembley, assisting twice in a commanding 3–0 victory over European champions Italy to lift another international trophy.
2008 Beijing Olympics (Gold Medal)
Representing Argentina’s U-23 squad, Messi delivered key performances—including an assist in the final against Nigeria—to secure the Olympic Gold Medal in China.
2005 FIFA U-20 World Cup
The world got its first true glimpse of Messi’s international brilliance when he finished as both the top scorer (6 goals) and the tournament’s best player, firing Argentina to youth glory in the Netherlands.
While his storied international chapter has drawn to a close, Messi’s domestic career with Inter Miami CF remains in full swing. Following a four-goal outburst against CF Montréal, Messi sits at 927 official senior career goals across club and country. Reaching the mythical 1,000-goal mark will require 73 more goals, a feat that hinges on maintaining his remarkable scoring frequency of ~0.79 goals per match while staying healthy across another two to three MLS and cup seasons in South Florida.