Lionel Messi is retiring from the Argentina national team after 21 years, finishing his international career with 207 appearances, 125 goals, and four major titles. La Voz de Galicia reported that his final appearance will take place during a friendly match against Benin at the Monumental de River stadium.
Messi finishes with 207 caps and four major trophies
The career of the Rosario-born forward concludes as the player with more appearances and also more goals with Argentina. Records show Messi earned 207 caps and scored 125 goals over two decades. His trophy cabinet includes the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the 2021 and 2024 Copa América titles, and the 2022 Finalissima.
Messi’s international journey began on August 17, 2005, in a friendly against Hungary at the Ferenc-Puskás-Stadion in Budapest. That debut ended abruptly when he was sent off shortly after entering the match as a substitute for Lisandro López. He scored his first senior goal on March 1, 2006, during a 3-2 victory over Croatia in Basel.
Early years and the struggle for national acceptance
Between 2005 and 2013, Messi faced scrutiny from critics who questioned his leadership and identity because he completed his formation in Europe, far from the potrero that has shaped the Argentine footballing imaginary. La Voz de Galicia noted that he was often accused of having a “cold” character that was seen as incompatible with the leadership expected of him.
Despite the criticism, he achieved significant milestones during this period. He won an Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Games and shared a locker room with Diego Maradona between 2008 and 2010. On June 14, 2013, Messi scored a hat-trick against Guatemala, surpassing Maradona’s record of 34 international goals.
The period of lost finals and 2016 retirement
From 2013 to 2016, Messi experienced a series of high-profile disappointments. Argentina reached three major finals in three years but lost all of them. The first was the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil, where Mario Götze scored in extra time to give Germany the victory at the Maracanã.
This was followed by two Copa América final losses to Chile in 2015 and 2016. Both matches were decided by penalty shootouts. Following the 2016 Centenario loss in the United States, Messi announced his first retirement from international football, stating, “Para mí se terminó. Ya lo intenté mucho, me duele no ser campeón con la Argentina y me voy sin poder conseguirlo.”
Return to the squad and transition under Scaloni
Messi reversed his decision on September 1, 2016, returning to the squad for a qualifier against Uruguay in Mendoza. The following years were a period of transition without remarkable results. Argentina struggled in the 2018 World Cup in Russia, exiting in the round of 16 after a 4-3 loss to France, and finished third in the 2019 Copa América in Brazil.
The appointment of Lionel Scaloni as manager improved the team's fortunes. Under Scaloni, Argentina was capable of conquering four titles in barely three years: the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and the 2024 Copa América.
Final records and the 2026 World Cup exit
In the latter stages of his career, Messi continued to break records. He secured his final trophy in the 2024 Copa América final in Miami, where Argentina defeated Colombia with a lone goal by Lautaro Martínez in extra time. Messi’s last dance with Argentina arrived in the World Cup of the United States, Mexico, and Canada, his sixth planetary date, where Spain took the cat to the water by imposing itself on the Albiceleste in the final of New York.
| Statistic | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Appearances | 207 |
| Total Goals | 125 |
| Major Titles | 4 |
| World Cups Played | 6 |
Questions regarding the post-Messi era
Who will inherit the captaincy and the number 10 shirt?
The Argentine Football Association has not yet officially named a successor for the captaincy or confirmed which player will take the number 10 jersey for the next cycle.
How does Messi’s goal record compare to other Argentine legends?
Messi finishes as the all-time leading scorer for Argentina with 125 goals, significantly exceeding the 34 goals scored by Diego Maradona.
Which titles did Messi win under Lionel Scaloni?
Messi won four titles under Scaloni: the 2021 Copa América, the 2022 Finalissima, the 2022 World Cup, and the 2024 Copa América.
The next confirmed event is the friendly match against Benin at the Monumental de River, which will serve as the official farewell for the forward.
