Leo Messi retires from Argentina: the GOAT's farewell, told by someone who saw him win and cry live

What's up, legends? No jokes today. Today I have to write one of those articles you'd rather never have to write, but at the same time it's an honour to write: Leo Messi has retired from the Argentina national team. He just announced it on his socials the only way he could: no produced video, no press release, no communications agency. Three pages of notebook paper written by hand and a pen on top of the sofa. Twenty years of history said goodbye to with the handwriting of a lad from Rosario. That's it. The albiceleste number 10 is now history. End of an Era.

"I gave everything, I have nothing left to give"

He wrote the letter, according to him, days after the World Cup final, and has been keeping it for a month and a half until he was sure. It deserves to be read in full, but there are phrases that cut right through you: "It was a decision that hurt and hurts my soul, but I understand that this is the moment". "I swear to you that I always gave everything, not just the last few years when we won it all — before that too: I always fought and gave my all for this shirt, to give you joy and make you proud to be Argentine through football". And the one that completely broke me: "I gave everything, I have nothing left to give, and besides there are some brilliant young lads coming up who deserve to be here". He ends by saying he'll now be "one more of you, cheering and backing from the outside — in the good times, and much more in the bad ones". He signs off with an "¡¡Come on Argentina!!". If this doesn't get you emotional, check your pulse.

Twenty years of the most heartbreaking love story in football

Because let no one forget: this wasn't a walk in the park, it was the most heartbreaking love story this sport has ever known. He debuted for the senior side in August 2005 against Hungary and lasted 47 seconds on the pitch: came on, got grabbed, threw his arm around and got a straight red. The best debut-anecdote in history: the bloke who'd go on to be EVERYTHING started crying in the dressing room. That same year he was already U-20 World Champion, and in 2008 he hung up the Olympic gold from Beijing. It looked like winning with Argentina was going to be a formality.

It was the complete opposite. The 2014 World Cup final lost at the Maracaná with Götze's goal and that blank stare walking past the trophy. The 2015 and 2016 Copa América finals lost on penalties to Chile — the second one, missing his own. And then, the first goodbye: "It's over for me with the national team", he said that night in 2016 in New Jersey, broken. All of Argentina took to the streets with the "Don't go, Leo" — even Maradona himself, who'd been his manager in South Africa 2010, asked him to stay. And he came back. Thank God he came back.

The final dance: the 2026 World Cup (and yes, we're the ones who retired him)

And we get to the end of the story, and this one hits close to home for us. Messi arrived at the 2026 World Cup at 39 years old playing his sixth World Cup — an absolute record in history — and instead of coasting, he dragged Argentina to the end one more time: the tears in Atlanta against Egypt in the Round of 16 (the photo above), Switzerland in the quarters, the battle against England in the semis… and the MetLife final on July 19th. The one I experienced live with my family: Spain 1-0 in extra time, goal by Ferran Torres, the second star. That night I celebrated like never before in my life… and yet, when the cameras focused on the number 10 watching the trophy slip away for the second time, something inside me sank. We're the ones who retired the GOAT, and I say this with all the pride in the world and all the respect in the universe: there's no greater honour than that. To beat Messi in his last game took the greatest Spain side ever and an extra half-hour. The way it had to be.

Two minutes of albiceleste career. Hit play with a tissue ready.

Thank you, Leo

I grew up arguing Messi vs Cristiano in the schoolyard, watching him tear LaLiga apart every weekend, and as I got older I had the privilege of seeing him live in his last World Cup. He retires from his national team as the greatest footballer who ever lived, and he does it the way he always played: without fanfare, without smoke, with truth. We still have his last club dances left, but the albiceleste shirt with the number 10 is now part of history. All that's left is to stand up and applaud until your hands hurt, legends. Thank you for so much, Leo. GOAT isn't up for debate: it's your surname. 🐐🇦🇷