Lionel Messi Retires From Argentina National Team After 20 Years

Lionel Messi is calling the final whistle on his international career. 

After 20 years and six trips to the World Cup, the soccer star has officially announced his retirement from Argentina’s National Team after giving the decision “a lot of thought.”

“It was a decision that hurt—and still hurts deep down—but I understand that the time has come,” Messi wrote in an Aug. 31 Instagram post translated from Spanish. “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.”

While the 39-year-old—dad to Thiago, 13, Mateo, 10, and Ciro, 8, with wife Antonela Roccuzzo— emphasized that the decision to take off his blue and white jersey hurts him “deeply,” he knows it’s the right choice. 

“I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the National Team,” Messi continued. “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.”