Lionel Messi's Retirement At 39, His Father's Death Influenced His Decision

Lionel Messi has reached the final page of his Argentina story. At the age of 39, the Argentine superstar announced his retirement from international football. Messi's decision came three weeks after his dad, Jorge, passed away at the age of 68 after he fought an illness. Messi will no longer wear the white-and-blue jersey that has defined his football career.

Lionel Messi announces his retirement from the Argentina national team two days after Spain defeated Argentina

Lionel Messi revealed that he made the decision just two days after Argentina lost to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The 39-year-old legendary player also stated that his dad's demise played a major role in his decision to retire as he bids adieu to the most glorious chapter of his football career.

Messi shared a picture of his handwritten message in Spanish, which spanned three pages of notebook paper. He had written those words on July 21, 2026, two days after Spain defeated Argentina. Lionel Messi, in his retirement announcement note, shared:

"After all this time since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to let everyone know that I am retiring from the national team. It was a decision that hurt, and still hurts deeply, but I understand that this is the right time. I swear I always gave everything, not just during the last few years when we won everything, but before that too. I always fought and gave my all for this shirt, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football."

Lionel Messi shared that after the demise of his dad, he thought of retiring from football

Lionel Messi has been deeply affected by his father's death. He had thought of stepping aside from his favourite sport after the death of Jorge. For him, it was never an easy call, and he was hurt while making this tough decision. The death of his beloved father made him realize that Messi had to step away from football. In his words:

"I wrote these words on July 21, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my father, I am even more convinced than before. There is little time left, and chapters are beginning to close, and this is one that hurts me a lot. I love, have loved and will always love being part of the national team. I gave everything I had; I have nothing more left to give. Besides, there are some great young players coming through who deserve their opportunity."

Messi also took the opportunity to thank all of his fans for their love and support over the past 20 years. He shared that he will miss hearing his fans cheering for him from inside the stadium. The legendary footballer thanked his fans for supporting him at all times and said:

"Now I will be one of you, always supporting and cheering from the outside — in good times and bad, even more so in the bad times. Thank you to my family for always being there, for accompanying me on this beautiful but difficult journey. Thank you to every coach, teammate and official I had the chance to share this journey with. I am taking with me unforgettable memories and moments."

Messi will continue to play with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer. However, he shared that leaving the game gave him peace of mind. He shared that he could not be who he is today if his teammates had not supported him or shared similar dreams. In his words, "It was crazy to experience it all with you. I love you! Thank you, God, for making me Argentine."

What are your views about Lionel Messi's retirement?

Pic credit- fabriziorom, lionel messi/IG

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