Argentina: Lionel Messi announces his retirement from the national team a month after his father's death

Lionel Messi announced his international retirement on August 31, 2026, after twenty years with the Argentine team, following the death of his father, Jorge Messi, on August 8. In a message posted on social media, he discusses the physical and mental toll of his career and emphasizes that a new generation of players deserves his spot. He thanks the Argentine public for their support and expresses pride in having represented his country.