Messi announces his international retirement

Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football with the Argentina national team.

His decision comes less than a month Messi's father, Jorge, died aged 68 on Aug. 8 in Rosario, Argentina. 

Messi had ​shared an emotional tribute to his father ​last week, describing him as his father, friend and ‌representative ⁠and saying he did not know how to continue without him.

In a statement issued on social media on Monday, Messi said:

"After all this time since the final, thinking about it a lot, I want to tell everyone that I am retiring from the National Team...It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep in my soul, but I understand that this is the moment. 

I swear to you that I always gave everything, not just in the last few years when we won everything, but also before. I always fought and gave my all for this shirt, to bring you joy and to make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.

There isn’t much left and chapters are closing, and this is one that hurts me a lot. I love, I loved, and I will always love being part of the National Team. I emptied myself out, I have nothing more to give. And also, there are really great young guys coming up behind me who deserve to be here.Thank you for all the love over these 20 years. 

I’m going to miss hearing you from inside so much. Now I’m going to be one of you, cheering and backing you always from the outside (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 every coach, teammate, and director that I had the chance to share with. I’m taking with me memories and unforgettable moments we lived.

I leave with the peace and pride of having given you, together with my teammates, dream moments. It was crazy to have lived it with you. I love you!

Thank you God for making me Argentine.Let's go Argentina!I wrote these words on July 21, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my dad, I am more convinced than ever."