Lionel Messi Retires from International Football After a Decade of Unforgettable Success

"I've given it my all, I have nothing left to give."

Lionel Messi has retired from international football as Argentina's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player. He captained the national team to World Cup glory at Qatar 2022 and Copa America triumphs in 2021 and 2024.

But the world was almost denied one of the most successful periods of Messi's international career.

On Sunday, 26 June 2016, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Messi appeared to bring his Argentina career to an end.

Just two days after his 29th birthday and shortly after missing a penalty in Argentina's Copa America final defeat by Chile, Messi said he had decided to step away from international football.

After 113 appearances, he was adamant about his decision. "For me, the national team is over. I've done all I can. It hurts not to be a champion," he said.

The disappointment was understandable. Argentina had lost the 2014 World Cup final as well as the Copa America finals in 2007, 2015 and 2016. Messi had faced intense criticism despite his extraordinary club career.

"It was the thing I wanted the most, but I couldn't get it, so I think it's over," Messi said after another major trophy slipped away. "I think this is best for everyone."

Fortunately for Argentina, Messi would later reconsider his decision.

Over the following decade, he completed one of football's most remarkable international stories. Since his retirement announcement in 2016, Messi added numerous appearances and goals for Argentina and helped the team win four major international trophies.

The six-week period between his June 2016 retirement declaration and the announcement on 12 August that he would continue playing for the "love of the country" became one of the most significant periods of his international career.

From Heavy Criticism to National Hero

As Messi prepares to leave the international stage, criticism directed at him a decade ago now looks very different.

Diego Maradona, Argentina's other legendary number 10, had questioned Messi's leadership qualities shortly before the 2016 retirement.

At the time, comparisons with Maradona were frequently used to judge Messi's international achievements. Messi had already won eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues with Barcelona and was a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, but his only major international honour at senior level had not yet arrived.

Maradona's achievements with Argentina, particularly his 1986 World Cup triumph, remained a major reference point in the debate.

Messi faced criticism from sections of the Argentine public, with some questioning his performances in major international matches and his ability to lead the national team.

Football writer and Messi biographer Guillem Balague said Messi had struggled with the pressure surrounding his role as Argentina captain and the constant comparisons with Maradona.

Balague also recalled the nickname "Pecho Frio", which was used by some critics in Argentina to question Messi's temperament.

However, Messi eventually changed the narrative through his performances and success with Argentina. The debate over his place among Argentina's greatest footballers has shifted dramatically, with many now considering him the country's greatest player.

A Campaign to Bring Messi Back

Messi's retirement announcement triggered an immediate reaction across Argentina.

Teammates called for him to reconsider, while fans launched the #NoTeVayasMessi campaign, meaning "Don't go Messi". The hashtag was widely shared across social media.

Argentina's then-president Mauricio Macri also spoke with Messi and encouraged him to continue representing the national team.

Thousands of supporters gathered in Buenos Aires to show their support, while public messages appeared across the capital urging the star to return.

Maradona also called on Messi to remain with Argentina and help the team at the 2018 World Cup.

'It Reminded Us How Much We Loved Him'

Edgardo Bauza replaced Gerardo Martino as Argentina coach in August 2016. One of his early priorities was to travel to Barcelona and speak with Messi about returning to international football.

The campaign to bring Messi back eventually succeeded.

"I love this country and this shirt too much," Messi said after returning to the international fold.

Success, however, did not arrive immediately. Argentina were eliminated by France in the last 16 of the 2018 World Cup, leading to further questions about whether Messi would ever win a major senior international trophy.

At the age of 34, Messi finally won his first senior international tournament with Argentina. He then went on to add several more major honours in a remarkably short period.

His international success included the 2021 Copa America, the 2022 Finalissima and the 2022 World Cup, followed by another Copa America title in 2024.

Messi continued to represent Argentina into the 2026 World Cup, adding further goals and assists to his international record before Argentina's campaign ended with a defeat by Spain in the final.

The final was played at the same MetLife Stadium where Messi had announced his retirement from international football a decade earlier.

Argentina supporter Benjamin, who attended the 2016 final at MetLife Stadium, recalled the emotional reaction to Messi's decision at the time.

"When Messi retired [10 years ago] it reminded us all how much we loved him," he said.

A Career That Changed Argentina's Football Story

Messi's international career has undergone a remarkable transformation. A player once criticised for failing to win a major senior trophy with Argentina eventually became the central figure in one of the country's most successful periods.

His achievements with the national team have also changed the nature of the long-running Messi-Maradona debate. While opinions about the greatest footballer of all time will continue, Messi's record with Argentina has strengthened his case considerably.

At 39, Messi's latest decision to retire from international football appears likely to be final, although an official farewell match in Argentina could still be considered.

South American football writer Tim Vickery suggested that the Argentine Football Association could eventually organise a farewell appearance in Buenos Aires once existing sanctions surrounding Argentina's next home fixture are resolved.

Whatever happens next, Messi leaves international football with a legacy that extends far beyond statistics. His journey from the disappointment of 2016 to World Cup glory in 2022 and further success with Argentina has become one of the defining stories of modern football.

For a player who once believed he had nothing left to give, the decision to return ultimately changed the history of Argentine football.