Lionel Messi announces retirement from Argentina national football team

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Lionel Messi announces retirement from Argentina national football team

12 minutes ago

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REUTERS

CHANNELNEWSASIA

ALJAZEERA

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Lionel Messi announces retirement from Argentina national football team

Credited from: CBSNEWS

Lionel Messi retires from the Argentina national football team.
He captained the team to World Cup victory in 2022.
Messi expressed pride in his contributions to the team.
The decision follows the death of his father, Jorge Messi.
Messi's club contract with Inter Miami lasts until 2028.

Lionel Messi, the iconic captain of Argentina, has announced his retirement from international football after nearly two decades with the national team. The decision comes after his participation in six World Cups, leading the team to victory in 2022 against France and a loss in the 2026 final to Spain. Messi expressed that "it was a decision that hurt — and still hurts deep down," but he felt it was the right time to step away from international duty, according to Reuters and Channel News Asia.

In his heartfelt Instagram post, Messi shared, "I swear to you that I always gave it my all," noting his commitment not just during recent victories but throughout his entire career. He mentioned his pride in delivering moments of joy to Argentines as a key motivator in his long tenure with the national team. Reports indicate that this announcement follows a period of reflection after the passing of his father, Jorge Messi, which has impacted his outlook on continuing his football career, as detailed by Al Jazeera and CBS News.