Lionel Messi has brought the curtains down on arguably the greatest international career of all time. (AP Photo)Lionel Messi has said that he is bringing the curtains down on his international career, stating on Monday that that he won’t be playing for Argentina any more. Messi said that he had prepared the statement had been written two days after the 2026 World Cup final, which Argentina lost to Spain. He further said that he has now made it public in the wake of his father Jorge’s death earlier this month.This is the second time that Messi has announced his retirement. The first was in the minutes after their defeat to Chile in the 2016 Copa America Centenario final to Chile. However, Messi reversed that decision and went on to have his most succesfull period with Argentina. He won his first major trophy with Argentina when they won the 2021 Copa America. The next year, he played a pivotal role in Argentina’s run to victory in the 2022 World Cup. It was the first time they had won the trophy since 1986.Messi had hinted over the course of the campaign that he might end his international career after the tournament. However, he continued playing after that 2024 Copa America as well. He briefly held the record all-time World Cup goalscorer at this year’s tournament, before it was surpassed by France’s Kylian Mbappe. He also set a new rcord for most assists in World Cup history since the records began in 1966. Messi led Argentina to final once again but this time, they lost 1-0 to Spain in extra time.Here is the full text of the Argentina great’s farewell statement:“After all this time that has passed since the final, and after much thought, I want to announce to everyone that I am retiring from the National Team…It was a decision that hurt, and still hurts, to my core, but I understand that it’s the right time. I swear that I always gave my all, not just in the last few years when we won everything, but before that too. I always fought and gave everything for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you proud to be Argentinian through football.There’s not much time left, and chapters are closing, and this is one that hurts me deeply. I love, loved, and will always love being on the National Team. I’ve given everything I have; I have nothing more to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming up behind me who deserve to be there.Story continues below this adThank you for all the love and support over these 20 years. I’m going to miss hearing you all from the inside so much. Now I’m going to be just one of you, cheering and supporting you from the sidelines (in good times and bad, even more so).Thank you to my family for always being there, for accompanying me on this beautiful but difficult journey. Thank you to each and every one of the coaches, teammates, and managers I had the privilege of working with. I take with me unforgettable memories and moments.I leave with the peace and pride of having given you, along with my teammates, dreamlike moments. It was incredible to have experienced it with you all. I love you!Thank you, God, for making me Argentinian.Go Argentina!*I wrote these words on July 21st, two days after the final. Today, after what happened to my dad, I’m even more convinced than before.”More to come…