Argentina star Lionel Messi retires from international soccer with World Cup title and 125 goals
ABC7 Los Angeles • • world
Key Points:
- Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international soccer after 21 years, concluding his Argentina career with a 2022 World Cup victory that solidified his status among the greatest players in history.
- Messi played a record-tying six World Cups, scored 125 goals in 207 appearances, and led Argentina to multiple finals, including the 2014 and 2022 World Cups and Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024.
- He revealed he wrote his retirement letter two days after the 2022 World Cup final but delayed announcing it due to his father's illness, who passed away in August 2023.
- Despite retiring from international play, Messi will continue his club career with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, where he remains a top performer and two-time defending MVP.
- Messi's international journey included a brief retirement in 2016 following consecutive final losses, but he returned to lead Argentina to historic victories, earning praise as a football legend by peers and coaches.
