Leo Messi, captain and legend of the Argentine national football team, announced this afternoon through his Instagram in a long and emotional statement that he is retiring from the Albiceleste at 39 years old and after an extraordinary record both collectively and individually. Messi, who made his international debut on August 17, 2005, against Hungary in Budapest at 18 years old, leaves behind a World Cup (Qatar 2022), two Copa América titles, an Olympic Games, and two World Cup finals that ended in runner-up finishes (2014 and 2026). The Argentine national team will have to reinvent itself, under the guidance of its coach Lionel Scaloni, from now on. Messi has been the undisputed beacon around which everything revolved, the play and leadership of the South Americans.
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The wording of the statement
The full statement reads as follows:
“After this time that has passed since the final, thinking it over a lot, I want to tell you all that I am retiring from the national team.
It was a decision that hurt and still hurts in the soul but I understand that it is the moment. I swear that I always gave everything, not only in the last years when everything was won but also before, and I always fought and gave my all for this jersey, to give you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.
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There is little left and stages are closing and this is one that hurts me a lot. I love, loved, and will always love being in the national team. I emptied myself, I have nothing more to give and besides, there are very great youngsters coming up who deserve to be here.
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Thank you for all the affection over these 20 years. I will miss hearing you from inside very much. Now I will be one more of you, always cheering and supporting from the outside (in good times and bad, much more).
I leave with the peace and pride of having given you, together with my teammates, dreamed moments. It was crazy to have lived it with you. I love you! Thank you God for making me Argentine. Let’s go Argentina!”.
Messi adds at the end of the text a reference to the recent passing of his father Jorge: “I wrote these words on July 21, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my dad, I am more convinced than before.”
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