Lionel Messi announces retirement from international football at 39

Argentina great Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, He noted in his Instagram post, which featured a photo of a handwritten message across three pieces of notebook paper, that he wrote those words on July 21, two days after Argentinas loss to Spain. Messis decision comes more than three weeks after his father, Jorge, died at 68 following a battle with an illness. The 39-year-old, who captained Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar in 2022, has scored 125 goals in 207 appearances, making him the country's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player. After all this time since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to tell everyone that Im retiring from the national teamIt was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep inside, but I understand that this is the right moment.I swear I always gave everything, not only in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too. I always fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you happiness and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.There isnt much time left, and different chapters are coming to an end. This is one that hurts me a lot. I love, I loved, and I will always love being part of the national team. I gave everything I had, and I dont have anything more to give.Also, there are great young players coming through who deserve to be here.Thank you for all the love during these 20 years. Im going to miss hearing you from the inside. Now Ill be one of you, always supporting from the outside, in the good times and even more in the bad ones.Thank you to my family for always being there and for being with me throughout this beautiful but difficult journey. Thank you to every coach, teammate and director I had the chance to share it with. I take with me unforgettable memories and moments.I leave with peace and pride, knowing that together with my teammates we gave you moments we once dreamed of. It was crazy to experience all of this with you. I love you!Thank you God, for making me Argentine.Vamos Argentina!I wrote these words on July 21, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my dad, Im even more convinced of this decision than before.The post Lionel Messi announces retirement from international football at 39 appeared first on Linda Ikeji Blog.