“When my footsteps no longer mark this path” — today, Lionel Messi reminded everyone of this famous line by the World Poet, Rabindranath Tagore. In an emotional social media post, he announced his retirement from international football. His trademark celebrations after goals and title wins in Argentina’s shirt will no longer be seen.
Bringing Argentine fans and supporters to tears, Messi has closed the book on a colorful 21-year career in international football. Setting countless records along the way, he earned the title “record-breaker’s favorite son.” Over his two-decade career in Argentina’s shirt, he scored 125 goals and provided 68 assists in 207 matches. Winning the 2022 World Cup fulfilled a dream he had carried since childhood. Twenty-three minutes after announcing his retirement, he posted a two-minute video on his official Facebook page. Set to a Spanish song, the video traced his 21-year colorful career. Let’s take a look at the records and milestones he leaves behind as he says goodbye to the Argentina team.
Lionel Messi’s records and milestones for Argentina
Most goals for Argentina: 125
Most appearances for Argentina: 207
Most hat-tricks in international football: 11
Most goals in international football in a calendar year: 18, in 2022
Most goals in South American World Cup qualifying: 31
Most goals from free kicks: 12 direct free-kick goals
Messi’s World Cup records
Most matches at a World Cup as captain: 19
Youngest player to score at a World Cup for Argentina: at 18, in 2006
Oldest player to score at a World Cup for Argentina: at 38, in 2026
Major titles with the national team
FIFA World Cup: 2022
Copa America: 2021, 2024
CONMEBOL-UEFA Cup of Champions (Finalissima): 2022
Olympic gold medal: 2008
Messi announced his retirement on social media today in an emotional message. But he had made the decision on July 21. Just as tears streamed down his face after Argentina’s 1-0 loss to Spain in New Jersey on July 19, that same emotion seemed to echo through today’s post.
Messi previously announced his retirement from international football once before, in 2016. After a penalty-shootout loss to Chile, he bid Argentina farewell out of frustration. He was 29 years old at the time. But this time he is 39. A repeat of what happened in 2016 is all but out of the question.