207 appearances, 125 goals, 11 hat-tricks, 1 World Cup victory, 2 World Cup Golden Balls, and 2 Copa America titles.
These are the remarkable achievements of Lionel Messi, the Soccer God, while wearing the Argentina national team jersey from 2005 to 2026.
On Monday, Messi announced his retirement from the national team through a handwritten letter shared on social media. He wrote that he no longer have the strength. It’s a heartbreaking decision, but he knows it’s time to leave the national team.
With this, Messi, hailed as a global soccer all-time legend, concludes his national team career and will now only play for his club, Inter Miami.
Messi’s national team debut was on August 17, 2005, as a substitute in a friendly against Hungary. His final match for Argentina came 21 years later on July 21, 2026, in the 2026 North and Central American World Cup final against Spain.
Unlike his glittering club career with Barcelona (Spain), where he won 10 league titles and 4 Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League (UCL) trophies, Messi’s national team memories weren’t always positive.
He consistently participated in World Cups since 2006, but Argentina often fell short of victory. In the 2014 Brazil tournament, Messi reached his first World Cup final but lost to Germany, settling for runner-up. Winning the tournament’s Golden Ball offered little consolation.
Even in the Copa America, which determines South America’s top team, Argentina finished as runners-up in 2007, 2015, and 2016.
After another runner-up finish in the 2016 Copa America, Messi tearfully announced a shocking retirement from the national team. It seemed the world’s best club player might end his international career without a trophy.
Following pleas from the Argentine president and the entire nation, Messi reconsidered and reversed his decision to retire, once again donning the national team jersey.
It was from this point that Messi’s national team career began to shine after years of frustration and disappointment.
In 2021, he won the Copa America, claiming his first major tournament victory with Argentina. In the 2022 Qatar World Cup, he led his team to glory, winning his second Golden Ball and finally lifting the coveted World Cup trophy.
Once the floodgates opened, Messi continued to collect trophies with the national team, including victories in the 2022 Finalissima and the 2024 Copa America.
Notably, he led Argentina to two consecutive World Cup finals with performances rivaling his prime, setting a record for the most World Cup appearances with 34 matches.
Messi has played in 207 international matches, setting the record for the most appearances by an Argentine player. This remarkable achievement reflects his consistent excellence over two decades, ensuring he was always called up to represent his country.
Moreover, his 125 goals rank him first among all South American national team players, and his 11 hat-tricks are the most in Argentina’s national team history.
In the Copa America, he also holds records for the most appearances (39) and assists (18), cementing his place in soccer history.
Despite facing significant setbacks and contemplating early retirement, Messi persevered. In the end, he concluded his national team journey on a golden note, living up to his reputation as the Soccer God.
His parting words resonate deeply: He loves playing for his country, he has always loved it, and he will always love it. He has given everything he had, and now there is nothing left to give.