Argentina captain Lionel Messi is reportedly set to retire from international football following his country’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final.
The 39-year-old forward is said to have informed his teammates of his decision before Sunday’s final at the New York New Jersey Stadium, according to Argentine journalist and football pundit Yanina Latorre.
Latorre claimed Messi delivered an emotional farewell speech in the dressing room ahead of the match, leaving several players in tears before urging them to focus on the final.
Argentina’s hopes of defending the World Cup title came to an end after Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in extra time to hand Spain a 1-0 victory.
Although Messi has yet to officially announce his retirement from international football, reports suggest the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner has already decided to end his illustrious Arg entina career.
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Messi was making his sixth World Cup appearance and is widely expected not to feature at the next edition of the tournament, when he would be 43 years old.
The Inter Miami star, however, enjoyed another remarkable World Cup campaign, scoring eight goals and providing four assists in eight matches to help Argentina reach the final. He narrowly missed out on winning both the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot.
Messi leaves the national team as Argentina’s all-time leading scorer, with 125 goals and 68 assists in 207 appearances. His international career also includes winning the 2022 FIFA World Cup, two Copa América titles and the Finalissima, cementing his status as one of the greatest players in football history.
An official announcement regarding his international future is still being awaited.
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