ARGENTINA great Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, saying the decision “hurt” but that he understands “the time has come”.
The 39-year-old, who captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022, has scored 125 goals in 207 appearances, making him the country’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Messi said he had given everything to the national team but now felt he had “nothing left to give”.
His retirement marks the end of an illustrious international career in which he helped Argentina win the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 FIFA World Cup, among other honours.a great Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, saying the decision “hurt” but that he understands “the time has come”.
The 39-year-old, who captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022, has scored 125 goals in 207 appearances, making him the country’s all-time leading scorer and most-capped player.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Messi said he had given everything to the national team but now felt he had “nothing left to give”.
His retirement marks the end of an illustrious international career in which he helped Argentina win the 2021 Copa América and the 2022 FIFA World Cup, among other honours.
