According to an official statement from the Argentine Football Association, Messi has concluded his more than 20-year career with the Argentine national team. The player, who holds the record for most appearances and is the all-time top scorer for the team, contributed 125 goals and 66 assists in 207 matches, helping Argentina win four major tournament titles.
Messi's journey with the Argentine national team began in the youth categories, with the 2005 U20 World Cup triumph being an early highlight. In the same year, he made his senior national team debut, and thereafter, he was involved in nearly all major competitions for Argentina. He competed in six World Cups and participated in multiple Copa Américas, as well as other official matches and international friendlies.
On a personal level, Messi became Argentina's all-time top scorer and most-capped player. His 125 goals, scored over more than 20 years against opponents from various continents, were distributed across World Cup qualifiers, World Cups, Copa Américas, and international friendlies. In terms of collective honors, Messi was instrumental in helping Argentina end a long drought and reclaim international titles: the 2021 Copa América was the first major title, followed by the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, and another Copa América title in 2024.
In the 2026 World Cup final against Spain, Messi delivered an outstanding performance, bringing his personal World Cup journey to a close. In that tournament, he scored 8 goals and provided 4 assists. On August 31, Messi announced his retirement from the Argentine national team through an emotional open letter. This decision came 33 days after the 2026 World Cup final, marking the end of a national team career spanning more than 20 years: 207 appearances, 125 goals, 66 assists, and four major tournament titles that defined the most glorious era of the Albiceleste.
Messi's National Team Goal Distribution:
World Cup: 21 goals + 12 assists
World Cup Qualifiers: 36 goals + 14 assists
Copa América (including 2016 Copa América Centenario): 14 goals + 18 assists
Friendlies: 53 goals + 20 assists
Finalissima: 0 goals + 2 assists
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