Lionel Messi retires from Argentina national team after six World Cup appearances

The 39-year-old scored 98 goals with 38 assists in 142 matches for his home country and helped Argentina win the 2022 World Cup.

Lionel Messi has played his last game representing Argentina, the soccer star announced Monday.

The 39-year-old Messi’s retirement from the national team comes 20 years after his first appearance and ends a career with La Albiceleste that saw him score 125 goals and add 68 assists in 207 matches.

Messi played in six World Cups, winning in 2022 and playing in the 2014 and 2026 finals. He became the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history during the tournament this summer with 21 goals, only for France’s Kylian Mbappé to overtake him with 22 goals.