Lionel Messi’s retirement from Argentina national team comes with World Cup final revelation

Soccer icon Lionel Messi released a heartfelt tribute to his father, Jorge, who passed away at the age of 68 in Rosario. This loss took a significant emotional toll on Messi as he prepared to compete in the 2026 World Cup while his father’s health declined.

After weeks of private mourning, Messi officially announced his retirement from international duty, delivering an emotional farewell to the Albiceleste alongside a major revelation about his decision’s timing. Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano shared Messi’s complete official statement regarding the end of his two-decade journey with Argentina, in which he said, “After all this time since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to tell everyone that I’m retiring from the national team. It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deeply, but I understand that this is the right moment. I swear I always gave everything, not only in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too. I always fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you happiness and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.”

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Messi explained that he chose to step aside to make way for the next generation of Argentine talent. He expressed gratitude to his coaches, teammates, family, and supporters for an unforgettable journey. Crucially, Messi revealed that he had made up his mind immediately after the tournament’s conclusion, stating, “I wrote these words on July 21, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my dad, I’m even more convinced of this decision than before.” Although he drafted the announcement shortly after the title match against Spain, he waited to go public until after dealing with the loss of his father.

This announcement, and his father’s passing, resonated across the global sports community, uniting fans and icons in both mourning and celebration of his international career. Longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo set aside decades of competition to offer public condolences, leaving a message of solidarity and strength on Messi’s tribute post about his father, a few weeks ago, before his retirement.

With his international legacy permanently cemented, Messi closes a historic era for Argentine football.

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