Shafaqna English– Lionel Messi has called time on his international career, announcing his retirement on Monday(31 Aug 2026). His decision comes after a World Cup campaign in which he inspired Argentina all the way to the final, leaving them just one win shy of a second straight world championship.
Now 39 years old, and two full decades removed from his debut on the global football stage, Messi departs international football having successfully mended the once-troubled bond with his homeland — a relationship that had previously loomed as a potential career-defining obstacle.
Source: Reuters