Web Desk(National Times)- Lionel Messi said on Monday he is retiring from international football after leading Argentina to a second successive World Cup final in July.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Following the death of his father Jorge in August, Messi had said he had \u201cserious doubts\u201d about continuing to play football of any sort for \u201cmuch longer\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul, but I understand that it is the right time,\u201d Messi, 39, wrote on Instagram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the post, the eight-time Ballon d\u2019Or winner notes that he wrote these words two days after Argentina\u2019s defeat to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final on July 19.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAfter what happened with my father, I am more convinced than ever,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Messi swore that he \u201calways gave everything\u201d to his fans and \u201cnot just during these last few years when we won everything, but before that as well\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI always fought and gave my all for this shirt, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football,\u201d he wrote.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere isn\u2019t much time left, and chapters are gradually coming to a close, and this is one that hurts me a lot,\u201d Messi added, expressing his love for the Argentine national team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI gave everything I had; I have nothing more left to give. And besides, there are some very talented young players coming through who deserve to be there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The football icon expressed gratitude to his fans for their support over the past two decades, as well as his family, coaches and teammates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNow I\u2019ll be one of you, always cheering and supporting from the outside (in good times and bad, even more so),\u201d he added, addressing his fans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you, together with my teammates, moments we could only have dreamed of. It was crazy to have lived it all with you. I love you!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Messi led Argentina to World Cup glory by winning the 2022 final against France in a penalty shootout in Qatar. His contract with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami runs until the end of the 2028 season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Web Desk(National Times)- Lionel Messi said on Monday he is retiring from international football after leading Argentina to a second successive World Cup final in July. Following the death of his father Jorge in August, Messi had said he had \u201cserious doubts\u201d about continuing to play football of any sort for \u201cmuch longer\u201d. \u201cIt was a decision […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":132253,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-132252","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n