The Argentine star sent shockwaves through the football world on Monday when he announced his retirement.
After two decades of triumphs and heartbreak, has Lionel Messi finally decided to call time on his illustrious career? The Argentine superstar sent shockwaves through the football world on Monday when he announced his retirement to his 516 million Instagram followers.
“It was a decision that hurt and hurts in the soul, but I understand it’s time,” Messi wrote in an emotional message to his fans. Yet his announcement has also raised questions over whether the 39-year-old has truly played his final match.
Messi has been away from European football since 2023, when he left Paris Saint-Germain to join Inter Miami. The Argentine forward quickly became a central figure for the MLS side, helping them win the Major League Soccer Cup in 2025.
But following his latest retirement announcement, questions remain over whether fans will see the 39-year-old back on the pitch for Inter Miami or in club football again.
The answer is yes — Messi has only retired from international football. While the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner may not play for Argentina again, he could still feature for Inter Miami, with fans potentially seeing him in the club’s pink jersey against Atlanta United on Sunday.
Strong performance
Many had expected Messi to announce his international retirement after his emotional appearance in the FIFA World Cup final. However, the announcement came just hours after Inter Miami’s 7-1 victory over Montreal on Sunday.
Messi produced a spectacular performance, scoring four goals and providing an assist against the Canadian side. His decision to announce his international retirement so soon after such a dominant display came as a surprise.
The announcement was met with heartfelt reactions from Messi’s former teammates, with Ángel Di María, Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul among those sharing their thoughts in the comments. José Mourinho, one of Messi’s long-time rivals, also reflected on what his absence could mean for future international tournaments, saying the next Copa América and World Cup will not feel the same.
Mourinho has a point. Messi featured in the finals of the last two editions of both tournaments. He helped Argentina win consecutive Copa América titles, although the team was unable to retain the World Cup this year.
Messi leaves international football as Argentina’s all-time leading scorer with 125 goals. He is also 73 goals short of reaching 1,000 goals in professional football. Having confirmed his decision to retire from international duty, the legendary forward can now only move closer to the four-figure milestone by continuing to score for Inter Miami.
