Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from the Argentina national team after two decades representing his country.

Axar.az reports that, in an Instagram post, Messi said the decision was painful but that he understood “it is the moment” to step away.

“I love, loved and will always love being in the national team. I gave everything, I have nothing left to give, and there are also great young players coming through who deserve to be there,” Messi wrote.

Messi said the message had originally been written on July 21, two days after the final, but added that events following his father’s death had made him “more convinced than before” about the decision.

Messi, 39, won the 2022 FIFA World Cup with Argentina. He also won the Copa América in 2021 and 2024, as well as the gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics.

The veteran player scored 125 goals for the national team.