Lionel Messi retires from international football after 20-year Argentina career

Lionel Messi has retired from international football.

The 39-year-old, who is signed with Inter Miami until 2028, announced on Monday his successful time with Argentina had come to an end after more than 20 years.

Messi said he was considering his future in football following the death of his father, Jorge, earlier this month.

In an emotional tribute to his dad, he hinted at retirement as he said: "I don't know how to carry on. I used to just play football, and now I'm really not sure if I'll carry on doing it for much longer."

And now he has made public his decision to call time on his international career in a post on Instagram, external, saying: "Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply."

World Cup winner Messi scored 125 goals in 207 appearances, making him the country's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player.

He has also scored a combined 921 goals for Barcelona, Paris St-Germain, Inter Miami and Argentina.

BBC Sport looks at some of the most iconic moments of his remarkable career.

Ridiculous as it sounds now, back in 2009 some English football fans and journalists questioned whether Messi could do it against English opponents in Europe - having failed to net in 10 Champions League appearances against Premier League sides.

But there were no more doubts when Messi rose highest in the box to head home Xavi's cross in his first Champions League final against Manchester United - and the first game billed as Messi v Cristiano Ronaldo.

Two years later he would score in another final win over Sir Alex Ferguson's men to claim the third of his four Champions League winners' medals.

A stat so amazing you have to go back to double check to make sure it really happened.

In 2012 Messi hit his 91st goal of the year in Barcelona's 3-1 win at Real Valladolid on 22 December.

It earned him a place in the Guinness Book of Records., external

He netted 79 goals for Barcelona and 12 for Argentina - in a total of 69 games for club and country.

It was enough to earn Messi a then-unprecedented fourth consecutive Ballon d'Or - even though he only won the Copa del Rey in 2012 for all those goals.

All the narratives seemed to come together in Barcelona's 3-2 win at Real Madrid on 23 April 2017.

Messi popped up with an injury-time goal, sweeping home a first-time shot from the edge of the area. It was an El Clasico winner, his 500th Barcelona goal and it sent his side top of the table - although Real would go on to win the league at the end of that season.

For good measure, he pulled out an iconic celebration when he took off his shirt and held it out so the Bernabeu faithful could see his name.

It was a triumph and moment that looked like it would never happen, with Messi having previously retired from international football before coming back.

It was always the thing held against him in debates about whether he was the greatest footballer of all time.

Messi scored two goals, and his effort in the 2022 shootout, as Argentina beat France on penalties after a 3-3 draw in the best World Cup final ever.

He was named player of the tournament, having netted seven times - including efforts in each knockout round.

Messi won another two Ballons d'Or after leaving Barcelona - one at Paris St-Germain and one at Inter Miami - to extend his record haul to eight.

His last one came in October 2023 after he won the World Cup and helped his Major League Soccer side lift the Leagues Cup for their first trophy.

"I couldn't imagine having the career I've had and everything I've achieved, the fortune I've had to be part of the best team in history," he said.

"All of them [Ballon d'Or awards] are special for different reasons."

With 2026 now his last World Cup, Messi certainly went out in style.

His eight goals in the tournament took him to 21 in the World Cup - more than anyone has ever scored, until Mbappe went past that tally to 22 in the Bronze Final defeat by England.

Aged 39, Messi's World Cup may have ended in disappointment - as Argentina lost to Spain in the final - but individually it was another month on football's biggest stage few will forget.