Dude, you saw it. The tears streaming down Lionel Messi’s face after Spain absolutely broke Argentina’s heart in extra time of last month’s FIFA World Cup final? In that raw, gut-wrenching moment, the greatest player soccer has ever seen *had* to know deep down that he’d laced up his boots in that iconic sky-blue-and-white-striped Albiceleste jersey for the very last time. Messi made it official on Monday, dropping the bombshell announcement of his retirement from the national team.
The GOAT Walks Away For Good
Messi, at 39 years old, confirmed the decision to walk away from international play just two days after that brutal loss to La Roja in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This wasn’t just a tough defeat, it was the culmination of an incredible career that saw him lead Argentina to three World Cup and five Copa América finals, winning the world title in 2022 and the last two editions of the Copa. He spilled his heart on an Instagram post, letting everyone know he made the call after 207 appearances and an insane 125 goals. Talk about leaving everything on the field, right? The man also added that the recent passing of his father, Jorge, back in their hometown of Rosario only solidified his decision. He’s going to keep ripping it up at the club level with MLS champions Inter Miami, but for Argentina, this is truly it. There’s no coming back this time.
A Goodbye That’s Different
It’s actually pretty wild that the 80,000-seat stadium just west of New York City, the site of this final, heartbreaking act on the global stage, is also where Messi first told the world he was done a decade ago. Back then, almost exactly ten years prior, in the very bowels of that venue, after Chile snatched the 2016 Copa América Centenario on penalties (and Messi missed his shootout attempt!), he shocked *everyone*. He was only 29, squarely in his prime, with four UEFA Champions League titles and five Ballon d’Or awards already under his belt. He was the GOAT, even without the international hardware back then. Media members, and yeah, some of us were there, instantly pivoted from covering the biggest game to the biggest news story on the planet. Cooler heads eventually won out, and Messi didn’t even miss a single game. But this time? This time feels different. This is final.
An Unprecedented Legacy
In his post on Monday, Messi spoke directly to Argentina’s fans, saying, “I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football. Thank you for all the affection over these past 20 years. I will miss hearing you from the pitch so much.” And honestly, it’s soccer fans globally who should be thanking *him*. Just think about the sheer joy he’s delivered over the last decade by sticking around after that 2016 “retirement.” After another World Cup heartbreak in 2018 against eventual champs France, Messi led the Albiceleste on a run of success that was just unheard of. He finally grabbed his first senior title for Argentina in 2021, beating blood rival Brazil in the Maracana. And then, the crowning achievement, the 2022 World Cup, where he bagged eight goals, including two in the final win. What a run, what a legend. He leaves behind an absolutely epic legacy for his country.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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