A historic turning point for Lionel Messi: The announcement moves Argentina
The end of an era for Lionel Messi and Argentina. On social media, the Albiceleste legend announced his permanent retirement from his country’s national team. In an open letter, the former Barcelona and PSG forward explained his decision, which he reached after the World Cup final in North America.
“After some time has passed since the final and after giving it a lot of thought, I want to let everyone know that I’m leaving the national team… It was a painful decision, and it still hurts deep down, but I understand that the time has come. I swear to you that I’ve always given my all: not just in these last few years when we’ve won everything, but even before that; I’ve always fought and given my all on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through soccer.”
“Time passes, chapters come to a close, and this is a chapter that pains me deeply. I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the national team. I’ve given everything I had; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are great young players emerging who deserve to be here. Thank you for all the love I’ve received over these 20 years. I’ll miss hearing you from the stands while I’m on the field so much. Now I’ll be one of you, cheering on and supporting the team from the sidelines (in the good times and the bad—especially the bad ones).”
“Thank you to my family for always being there, for accompanying me on this journey that has been so beautiful and, at the same time, so difficult. Thank you to every coach, teammate, and club official with whom I’ve shared this journey. I take with me unforgettable memories and moments. I’m leaving with the peace of mind and pride of having given you—together with my teammates—moments we could once only dream of. It was an incredible experience to share it with all of you. I love you all! Thank you, God, for making me Argentine.”
“I wrote these words on July 21, two days after the final. Today, after what happened to my father, I’m even more convinced of this than before.”
Messi has won one World Cup, two Copa América titles, and an Olympic gold medal while playing for Argentina. He has played a total of 207 matches since 2005, scoring 125 goals and shattering every record in history.
