Messi tells Argentina teammates he has played final international match

Lionel Messi has told his Argentina teammates he is ending his international career after the team's 1-0 loss to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, according to the report. The 39-year-old forward, who captains Inter Miami and is a former Barcelona player, also lost the Golden Boot and Argentina's all-time national-team scoring record to France's Kylian Mbappé, while Spain's Rodri was named the tournament's best player. The defeat left Argentina unable to defend the title it won in 2022, and the individual awards added to the disappointment around the camp. Messi told Argentine players he had played his last match for the national side and is preparing to step away from the international stage. The 2026 final marked Messi's sixth consecutive World Cup appearance, matching the mark set by Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa. No further details on a potential farewell match were immediately available.