{"id":7771,"date":"2026-08-31T16:46:03","date_gmt":"2026-08-31T16:46:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=7771"},"modified":"2026-08-31T16:46:03","modified_gmt":"2026-08-31T16:46:03","slug":"lionel-messi-retires-from-argentina-national-team-after-his-fathers-death","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=7771","title":{"rendered":"Lionel Messi retires from Argentina national team after his father’s death"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

Lionel Messi\u2019s final game in an Argentina shirt was this year\u2019s World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium.<\/p>\n

Read more Kalshi slaps scandal-ridden George Santos with first-ever lifetime ban over shady bet<\/a><\/p>\n

The soccer legend, 39, announced on Monday that he is retiring from the national team after Argentina lost to Spain in the final, four years after he led his country to a World Cup title. He noted in his Instagram post, which featured a photo of a handwritten message across three pieces of notebook paper, that he wrote those words on July 21, two days after Argentina\u2019s loss to Spain.<\/p>\n

Messi\u2019s decision comes more than three weeks after his father, Jorge, died at 68 following a battle with an illness.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday, after what happened with my dad, I am more convinced than ever,\u201d Messi wrote in Spanish.<\/p>\n

Messi, who is still playing for Inter Miami in the MLS, has the most goals scored (125) and most appearances (207) for Argentina.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was a decision that hurt and still hurts to my core, but I understand that it\u2019s the right time,\u201d Messi wrote in Spanish. \u201cI swear that I always gave my all, not only in the last few years when we won everything, but also before, and I always fought and gave everything for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentinian through football.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s not much time left, and chapters are closing, and this is one that hurts me a lot. I love, loved, and will always love being on the National Team. I\u2019ve given everything; I have nothing more to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming up behind me who deserve to be there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more Exclusive | Convicted cabdriver rapist Gurmeet Singh stripped of US citizenship 15 years after assaulting passenger<\/a><\/p>\n

As Messi became a global superstar with Barcelona, winning 10 La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues, the one knock was he had failed to deliver Argentina a major trophy.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>\n

There were quarterfinal ousters in his first two World Cup appearances in 2006 and 2010, a World Cup Final loss to Germany in 2014 and a Round of 16 loss to France in 2018.<\/p>\n

Three final losses in the Copa America also haunted Messi, including one to Chile in 2016 that led to a brief retirement from international play. La Abliceleste finally got off the schneid in the 2021 tournament, defeating Brazil 1-0 in the final.<\/p>\n

The next year, Messi finally led Argentina to a World Cup title, the country\u2019s third all-time and first since 1986.<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks to my family for always being there, for accompanying me on this beautiful but difficult journey,\u201d Messi wrote. \u201cThanks to each of the coaches, teammates, and managers I had the pleasure of sharing it with. I take with me unforgettable memories and moments.\u201d<\/p>\n

Read more John Galliano pulls out of Met Gala 2027 after backlash<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Soccer legend Lionel Messi, 39, is retiring from the Argentina national team after his father’s death and a World Cup Final loss to Spain.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7770,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[76],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7771","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-soccer"],"yoast_head":"\nLionel Messi retires from Argentina national team after his father's death - Metro Transit Review<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/metrotransitreview.com\/?p=7771\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Lionel Messi retires from Argentina national team after his father's death - 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