39-Year-Old Forward Walks Away From Argentina With 21 World Cup Goals
Lionel Messi officially ended his 21-year international career with Argentina on August 31, 2026, closing a national team chapter that yielded a World Cup title, two Copa América trophies, and two World Cup Golden Balls. The 39-year-old forward finishes his international journey as the second-highest goalscorer in World Cup history with 21 goals.
His decision follows a 2026 World Cup campaign in which he produced eight goals, leading Argentina through the knockout stages to a final against Spain before stepping aside.
Lionel Messi
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From his debut in 2006 as an 18-year-old substitute scoring 13 minutes after entering against Serbia, Messi spent two decades restructuring Argentina’s attacking shape. By the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, he was the primary creative axis, scoring four group-stage goals and earning his first Golden Ball award as Argentina reached its first final in 24 years.
In the 2022 tournament, he adapted his positioning to operate with maximum efficiency, contributing seven goals and three assists to secure the World Cup title against France in a penalty shootout. During the 2026 tournament, operating at age 39, he scored a hat trick in the opening stages and recorded a late equalizer against Egypt in the knockout rounds.
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His early international turning point arrived at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, when newly appointed Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola granted him permission to join the Argentina U-23 squad despite initial club resistance. Operating as the primary dynamic runner, Messi scored twice across five matches to guide Argentina to an undefeated six-game run and an Olympic gold medal.
The timing of his decision to step down from international duty was influenced by the physical strain of his final tournament performance alongside personal reflection following the death of his father earlier in August 2026.
Reflecting on his two decades wearing the national shirt, Messi described his international tenure directly:
It was an incredible experience.
Addressing the emotional toll of his final match with La Albiceleste, he noted that it would “take time for this wound to heal.”
Messi concludes his international tenure with four major trophies and 21 World Cup goals across five separate tournament appearances for Argentina.