Lionel Messi announces retirement from Argentina national team

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Lionel Messi, captain of Argentina's national football team and forward for Inter Miami, has announced his retirement from international football. In an official statement, Messi said he had thought carefully about the decision since his last final and confirmed he was ending his career with the national team. Messi described the decision as painful but said he believed the moment was right. He stressed that he had always given his best while wearing the Argentina shirt and noted that his commitment extended beyond the team's recent successes to earlier periods in his career. The forward said he felt he was nearing the end of a different chapter and expressed continued love for the national team. He added that younger players deserve to wear the national jersey and that he wanted to make room for the next generation. Messi thanked Argentine fans for two decades of support, said he would miss the chants in stadiums and pledged to support the team from the stands going forward. Messi also thanked his family, coaches, teammates and staff, saying he closes his international career with peace and pride and is grateful to be Argentine.