Two decades of impact: Messi bows out from international football

For more than two decades, Lionel Messi gave Argentina fans reasons to dream, celebrate, cry and believe, and now, as he steps away from international football, he leaves behind a story that goes far beyond the goals, records and trophies that have made him one of the greatest players of all time.

Messi’s Argentina journey was not always glorious, and perhaps that is what makes it so touching, because for years he carried the weight of a nation that expected him to deliver what had eluded generations of Argentine players. He lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany and then suffered back-to-back Copa America final defeats in 2015 and 2016, with the latter disappointment so painful that he briefly walked away from international football.

But Messi returned, and his return changed everything. In 2021, he finally lifted a major international trophy when Argentina defeated Brazil in the Copa America final at the Maracana, and the sight of Messi celebrating with his teammates was more than a sporting victory; it was a moment of relief for a player who had spent years being told that his brilliance with Barcelona meant little if he could not win with his country.

Then came Qatar in 2022, where Messi produced one of the finest chapters of his career. At 35, he led Argentina to the World Cup title, scoring seven goals and two in the unforgettable final against France before converting his penalty in the shootout, finally lifting the trophy that had escaped him in 2014.

The success did not make him less human. Messi still showed frustration, exhaustion and emotion, particularly when matches did not go his way, but he also showed the ability to keep going after disappointment, and that resilience became one of the most powerful parts of his story. Even after Argentina lost the 2026 World Cup final to Spain, his contribution to the national team could not be reduced to one final result.

There was also something special about the way Messi carried himself. He rarely needed loud speeches or grand gestures to command attention, because his leadership was often expressed through his football, his willingness to take responsibility and his determination to keep fighting when the pressure was at its highest.

Away from the pitch, Messi has maintained a relatively private and family-centred life despite becoming one of the most recognisable people in the world. Through the Leo Messi Foundation and his role as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, he has also supported initiatives involving children’s health, education and access to opportunities, showing that his influence can extend beyond football.

Messi leaves international football with 207 appearances and 125 goals for Argentina, alongside three major international titles, but numbers cannot fully explain what he meant to the country or to millions who watched him grow from a gifted young player into a captain who finally delivered the prizes his nation craved. His greatest legacy may simply be the reminder that even extraordinary people can lose, hurt, doubt themselves and still find the strength to return, try again and, eventually, win.