Lionel Messi has officially brought the curtain down on an extraordinary international career, saying it was a decision that hurt him but the time has come. The 39-year-old Argentine icon announced his retirement from international football on Monday, describing the decision as painful but necessary as he closes a chapter that has spanned more than two decades. It hurts, but the time has come, Messi said in a statement posted on Instagram, adding that he had given everything he could to the national team and now had nothing left to give. His retirement marks the end of one of the most successful international careers ever witnessed in football. Messi scored 125 goals in 207 appearances for Argentina, making him both the country's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player. For years, critics questioned whether Messi could replicate his club success on the international stage. Those doubts were eventually silenced as he led Argentina to a golden period of success, highlighted by the 2022 FIFA World Cup triumph in Qatar. The World Cup victory cemented Messi's place among football's all-time greats, ending Argentina's 36-year wait for the sport's biggest prize. Under his leadership, Argentina also captured back-to-back Copa América titles, restoring the nation's dominance in South American football. Messi made his senior debut for Argentina in 2005 and went on to feature in six World Cups. Throughout his international career, he became the face of Argentine football, inspiring a new generation of players while carrying the expectations of millions of fans around the world.
