The Argentine Football Association (AFA) announced on August 29 that Messi had retired from international football after losing the 2022 World Cup final to Spain and following his father’s passing.
Messi said it was a heartbreaking decision, but the right one, adding that the national team has been part of his life for so long, and it was time to move on.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was heartbroken after losing the final game of the World Cup in the United States, and there would be no farewell match in Argentina.
“I swear, I’d love to keep coming my whole life, because playing for Argentina is the most beautiful thing that can happen to you,” the Argentine former captain said.
He said it was a huge source of pride for me to wear this shirt all this time, more than 20 years, adding that “It’s hard to talk. There are a lot of emotions, a lot of things going through my head.”
President of the Argentine Football Association, Claudio Tapia, in cooperation with coach Lionel Scaloni, invited Messi to return for one last friendly match at Estadio Monumental.
The 2022 World Cup-winning squad and their families were invited to the match in Messi’s hometown of Rosario the day before the match.
The Atomic Flea’s farewell to the world came with a list of achievements over two decades of appearances, goals, titles, and records in the national team.
The former Argentinian captain scored 125 goals in 207 matches over 21 years as a professional player for his country.
Messi made 207 appearances for the national team before scoring in the 2022 World Cup final. He also captained the squad to the 2021 Copa America, the 2022 Finalissima, and the 2024 Copa America, silencing critics who claimed he always lost with Argentina.
In addition to winning the 2022 World Cup, Messi scored in the 2014 World Cup final against Germany, suffered years of criticism, and captained the team to victory in the 2022 tournament.
Messi, who turned 39 this year, is the most consequential player in Argentina’s history, leading the team to the finals of the 2014 World Cup and the 2016 Copa América Centenario, both of which ended in defeat.
However, this summer, the 39-year-old Messi captained Argentina to the final once again, where they lost to Spain.
Describing the end of his Argentina career, Messi said, “It’s the saddest day of my career.”
Messi’s farewell marks his meteoric rise to stardom, but it is also respect for a man who has served his country for decades on end.
The fans who once questioned his patriotism will always have a front-row seat to his performances for Argentina, watching and cheering him on.
As Messi’s final whistle blows for Argentina, the football-mad nation turns its attention to Lionel Messi, a man who has worn the national team jersey for the last twenty years.
“Not coming anymore is going to hurt a lot,” said Lionel Messi.
