Argentina captain Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, according to Sky News, which reported the development as breaking news. The broadcaster said the announcement had come just a few minutes earlier and marked the end of his international career, meaning it is the last that will be seen of the 39-year-old on the world stage after years at the very top of the game.
According to Sky News, Messi is not walking away from football altogether. The broadcaster noted that the former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star continues to play in Major League Soccer for Inter Miami. It is his international career, rather than his club football, that he has drawn a line under with the announcement reported by the broadcaster.
Sky News highlighted that Messi has delivered some of the biggest moments on the international stage. The broadcaster pointed in particular to the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar, when Argentina beat France, describing it as a moment that crowned his career. According to Sky News, Messi showed his formidable scoring exploits in that final before receiving the World Cup trophy.
The broadcaster explained that major international success had long eluded Messi. According to Sky News, it was only in recent years that he landed the South American title and then finally the World Cup, adding those honours to the trophies he had already won during his time at Barcelona. Those late triumphs, the broadcaster said, reshaped how his career is viewed.
Sky News also linked the timing of the decision to a personal loss. According to the broadcaster, Messi has been deeply impacted by the death of his father, Jorge, in the last month or so. The report said Messi had spoken in recent weeks about really struggling following his father's death, which came as he was preparing to step away from the international game.
The retirement reignited a familiar debate, according to Sky News. The broadcaster said many will discuss whether Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo is the greatest of this generation, and of all time, alongside his compatriot Diego Maradona or Pele. Sky News noted that, unlike Ronaldo, Messi has won the World Cup, which for many places him at the very top of this era.
According to Sky News, the announcement took the form of an emotional statement in which Messi thanked his family. The broadcaster reflected that he had gone on longer than most footballers at the highest level, and that his international career had ended after he finally secured the game's biggest prize, having captained Argentina to glory in 2022.