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![\"FILE](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/7c3175aa1531e353d877515bd5d60cf1_Barcelona_Gabriel_Jesus_Soccer__7212.jpg.webp\")
<\/p>\nFILE – Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus controls the ball during a Champions League semifinal, first leg, soccer match between Atletico Madrid and Arsenal in Madrid, April 29, 2026. (AP Photo\/Manu Fernandez, File)<\/p>\n
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BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) \u2014 Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international soccer on Monday after two decades representing Argentina.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a decision that hurt \u2014 and still hurts deeply \u2014 but I understand that the time has come,\u201d the 39-year-old Messi said on his Instagram account.<\/p>\n
\u201cI swear to you that I always gave it my all \u2014 not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too; I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.\u201d<\/p>\n
Messi played in a record-tying six World Cups, won it in 2022 in Qatar and led Argentina to this year’s final, losing to Spain in extra time in New Jersey.<\/p>\n
In the World Cup hosted in the U.S., Mexico and Canada, Messi played all eight matches and scored eight goals. He finished just one goal behind France\u2019s Kylian Mbapp\u00e9, the tournament\u2019s top scorer. He concluded his international career as Argentina’s all-time leading scorer with 125 goals, 21 of which were scored in World Cups.<\/p>\n
He explained he wrote his retirement letter on July 21 \u2014 two days after the World Cup final \u2014 but waited to publish it because his father was facing health issues that eventually claimed his life.<\/p>\n
Jorge Messi died on Aug. 8 in his native Rosario.<\/p>\n
Messi will continue to play for Inter Miami. Over the weekend he scored four times in a 7-1 win over CF \u200bMontreal.<\/p>\n
He made his Argentina debut in 2006 but his journey was fraught with frustration until he finally lifted the World Cup in 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cThank you for all the love these past 20 years,” he said. “I\u2019m going to miss hearing you all from the inside so much. Now I\u2019m going to be one of you, cheering and supporting you from the outside (through thick and thin, even more so).\u201d<\/p>\n
In the letter, the Inter Miami captain did not say how long he intends to continue playing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you \u2014 along with my teammates \u2014 moments we once only dreamed of. Experiencing this with you was incredible. I love you all,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Messi’s stellar recent success with Argentina nearly didn\u2019t happen.<\/p>\n
A decade ago, before the World Cup triumph and Copa Am\u00e9rica titles in 2021 and 2024, he retired from the national team. The decision followed Argentina’s defeat in the 2016 Copa Am\u00e9rica final to Chile on penalty kicks, one of which he missed.<\/p>\n
But Messi shook off the notion of not being able to win the big match. He continued starring for Barcelona, then Paris Saint-Germain, then Inter Miami.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s the two-time defending Most Valuable Player in Major League Soccer, the star of the league reigning champion, someone who still creates goals in the biggest moments.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe is pure history,\u201d Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni said during the recent World Cup. \u201cHistory. A legend.\u201d<\/p>\n
AP Sports writer Tim Reynolds in Miami contributed to this report.<\/p>\n
See AP\u2019s full soccer coverage here<\/p>\n
FILE – Argentina’s Angel Di Maria, top, celebrates with Argentina’s Lionel Messi after scoring against Ecuador during a World Cup 2014 qualifying soccer game in Buenos Aires, June 2, 2012. (AP Photo\/Ivan Fernandez, File)<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n FILE – People sing happy birthday to Lionel Messi at a street mural of him in Buenos Aires, Argentina, June 24, 2026. (AP Photo\/Rodrigo Abd, File)<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n FILE – Argentina’s Lionel Messi, left, competes for the ball with Nigeria’s Danny Shittu, right, and Nigeria’s Dickson Etuhu, center, during the World Cup group B soccer match in Johannesburg, South Africa, June 12, 2010. (AP Photo\/Hassan Ammar, File)<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n FILE – Argentina’s Lionel Messi (10) dribbles between England’s Anthony Gordon (18) and Harry Kane (9) during the World Cup semifinal soccer match in Atlanta, July 15, 2026. (AP Photo\/Lynne Sladky, File)<\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n
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