LIONEL MESSI RETIRES FROM ARGENTINA NATIONAL TEAM

Lionel Messi announced his retirement from the Argentina national team on Monday, officially ending one of the greatest international careers of all time.

Inter Miami CF's legendary No. 10 confirmed the news on his social media account, calling it a "decision that hurt, and still hurts deep down, but I understand that the time has come.

"I swear to you that I always gave it my all: not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too; I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football."

Argentina icon

Messi retires from international duty as a national team hero, rivalled only by the late Diego Armando Maradona. 

His 125 goals, 68 assists and 207 appearances are all Argentina records, while he ranks top-four all-time in caps, top-two in goals and No. 1 in assists across international soccer. 

The 39-year-old reached his greatest heights with La Albiceleste at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, leading the country to its third title with 7g/3a over the course of a memorable tournament that culminated with a legendary final win over France. 

Messi also won two Copa Américas (2021, '24) with Argentina, and reached the 2014 and 2026 World Cup finals. He is the only player in history to win two World Cup Golden Ball awards (2014, '22) and the only player to start three World Cup finals (2014, '22, '26).

Thank you for giving us the most beautiful journey of our lives. Your legacy and professionalism will remain forever etched in our hearts.

Thank you, Captain. We love you 🩵 pic.twitter.com/ARfgguHjxd

— Selección Argentina in English (@AFASeleccionEN) August 31, 2026

Emotional end

Monday's announcement capped an emotional summer for Messi, who guided Argentina to their second straight World Cup final with 8g/4a in eight games, before falling to Spain, 1-0, in the 2026 title match. 

That turned out to be his last appearance with La Albiceleste. It also came a few weeks before the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner mourned the passing of his father, Jorge Messi.

"I wrote these words on July 21st, two days after the final," Messi concluded in his statement.

"Today, after what happened with my dad, I am even more convinced than before."

🚨🚨 LEO MESSI ON IG 🥹🎥 pic.twitter.com/8xO5lcfI2e

— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) August 31, 2026

Statement in full

Messi, the most decorated soccer player in history, addressed his millions of followers on Monday to officially announce the end of his remarkable 21-year run with Argentina:

"After the time that has passed since the final, and after giving it a lot of thought, I want to let everyone know that I am retiring from the National Team.

"It was a decision that hurt, and still hurts deep down, but I understand that the time has come. I swear to you that I always gave it my all: not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too; I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.

"Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply. I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the National Team. I’ve given everything I had; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming up who deserve to be here.

"Thank you for all the affection over these past 20 years. I will miss hearing you from the pitch so much. Now I’ll be just one of you, cheering and supporting from the outside (through the good times and the bad, especially the bad).

"Thank you to my family for always being there, for accompanying me on this journey, so beautiful, yet so difficult. Thank you to every coach, teammate, and official I’ve shared this path with. I take with me unforgettable memories and moments.

"I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you, alongside my teammates, moments we once only dreamed of. It was an incredible experience to live this with you all. I love you!

"Thank you, God, for making me Argentine.

"Let's go, Argentina!

"I wrote these words on July 21st, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my dad, I am even more convinced than before."

Jaime Uribarri

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POPE FRANCIS WAS A CARD-CARRYING SOCCER FAN. AND A PROMOTER OF THE VALUES IN SPORTS

Vatican Obit Pope Francis
FILE - Argentine soccer legend Diego Armando Maradona, left, greets Pope Francis in the Paul VI hall at the Vatican, Monday, Sept. 1, 2014. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

ROME (AP) — From meetings with Diego Maradona to the passion for his beloved Buenos Aires club, San Lorenzo, Pope Francis was an avid soccer fan. And a promoter of sports in general.

Francis died Monday at 88 and the soccer and sports world immediately paid homage.

All sports events scheduled for Monday in Italy were postponed to mourn Francis, including four top-flight soccer matches. A minute of silence will be observed before all sports events this week, the Italian Olympic Committee said.

“Italian soccer joins in the mourning of millions of people following the death of Pope Francis. He was a great example of Christian caring and dignity in the face of suffering and he was always attentive to the sports world and particularly soccer, of which he was a fan,” said Italian soccer federation president Gabriele Gravina. “He will always remain in the hearts of the faithful and lovers of soccer.”

Vatican Obit Pope Francis
FILE - Pope Francis twirls a soccer ball he was presented by a member of the Circus of Cuba, during his weekly general audience in the Pope Paul VI hall, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2019. (AP Photo/Andrew Medichini, file) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Francis’ passion for soccer became known almost immediately after he was elected pope in 2013 when San Lorenzo tweeted a photo of him holding up the club’s crest. He was even a card-carrying member of the club, with San Lorenzo ID No. 88,235.

San Lorenzo is nicknamed “the Saints.”

In Italy, there were also suggestions that Francis supported Juventus since his family came from the Piedmont region where the Turin club is based. Francis' father, Mario Bergoglio, was a basketball player.

San Lorenzo, one of the oldest teams in the Argentine Football Association, performed well after Francis was elected as the 266th pope in March 2013. The team won a national title in 2013 and then claimed the South American Copa Libertadores for the first time a year later. Club officials traveled twice to the Vatican carrying trophies to thank Francis for his support.

A planned new San Lorenzo stadium is to be named for Francis.

During a meeting with the Argentina and Italy national teams shortly after he was elected, Francis noted the influence of athletes, especially on youth, and told the players to remember that, “for better or worse” they are role models. “Dear players, you are very popular. People follow you, and not just on the field but also off it,” he said. “That’s a social responsibility.”

Vatican Obit Pope Francis
FILE - Pope Francis blesses faithfuls as he arrives to celebrate the Mass of Assumption of Mary at Daejeon World Cup stadium in Daejeon, South Korea, Friday, Aug. 15, 2014. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia, file) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Francis met his fellow Argentine Maradona twice as pope. There was a special audience in connection with a charity soccer match in 2014 when Maradona presented the pontiff with a soccer jersey, emblazoned with the name “Francisco” — Spanish for Francis — and Maradona’s No. 10.

“I think we all now realize he’s a (star),” Maradona said after another meeting in 2015. “I’m Francis’ top fan.”

When Maradona died in 2020, Francis remembered the soccer great in his prayers.

Francis often hailed sports as a way to promote solidarity and inclusion, especially for young people.

During a global conference on faith and sport in 2016, Francis implored leaders to do a better job of keeping corruption off the playing field and said sports must be protected from manipulations and commercial abuse.

“Francis was a special pope, able to illuminate in his time like only the greatest can,” Gianluigi Buffon, the former captain of Italy’s national soccer team who met the pope on multiple occasions, said on Instagram. “He showed us the way with great courage and moved our souls. I will carry his example forever in my heart.”

- ANDREW DAMPF, AP Soccer 

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