Share to ClassroomMessi Retires From Argentina National Team
Lionel Messi has said he will stop playing for Argentina's national team. Many call him one of the best footballers ever. The 39-year-old announced the news on Monday in a handwritten note on Instagram. He said the decision hurts his soul. Messi wore the No. 10 shirt for 21 years. He played 207 games and scored 125 goals, both national records. He led Argentina to win the World Cup in 2022.
Messi retired once before, in 2016, but he quickly came back. This time, experts think the decision is final. Sports writer Simon Kuper told NPR (National Public Radio) that no player has stayed at the top at 39. Messi would be 43 at the next World Cup. In his last tournament, he scored eight goals and took Argentina to the final, where they lost to Spain. His father, who managed his business, died recently. Messi wrote that this showed him the decision was right. He still plays for Inter Miami.
Argentina wants to say thank you. Referees will stop every match in the next league round after 10 minutes. Fans will clap for Messi for one minute. Kuper says football is very important to Argentina. He called Messi a national hero, next to Diego Maradona. There will never be another Messi, he said.
