Lionel Messi has completed football and can bid Argentina farewell with pride
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Lionel Messi is retiring from Argentina following the World Cup, bringing an end to a transformative 16-year journey that saw the nation's football fortunes dramatically reverse. He will play one final friendly against Benin in Buenos Aires this week, capping a career marked by earlier disappointment and renewal after initially retiring in 2016.
Messi will finish with an Argentina record of 208 international caps and 125 goals, having finally won the World Cup—the trophy that eluded him through four previous major finals between 2007 and 2016. Under coach Lionel Scaloni, who has managed him for 79 caps, Argentina transformed from a struggling team into champions, with teammates seemingly honouring the unwritten pact to do defensive work so that Messi could focus on his attacking brilliance.
- Messi retires from Argentina after World Cup with record 208 caps and 125 goals.
- He finally won the World Cup after previous retirements and heartbreaking defeats.
- Coach Scaloni built the team to maximise Messi's attacking influence.
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Lionel Messi is one of football's greatest players and has spent the past 16 years playing for Argentina's national team. The defining moment of his career with Argentina was when the team won the World Cup—the sport's most prestigious tournament, held every four years. This achievement was particularly significant for Messi because he had previously competed in several major tournament finals without managing to win the World Cup.
Messi's time with Argentina was marked by disappointment and subsequent renewal. In 2016, following tournament losses, he withdrew from international football but returned within a few weeks. Under coach Lionel Scaloni, Argentina transformed from a struggling team into world champions, with teammates contributing defensive support that allowed Messi to concentrate on attacking play.
His retirement is significant because Messi is regarded as one of football's greatest players of all time, and winning the World Cup represents an achievement that had eluded him throughout his international career. He departs as Argentina's all-time leading goalscorer with 125 goals across 208 international appearances.