Lionel Messi has played his last game representing Argentina, the soccer star announced Monday. The 39-year-old Messi’s retirement from the national team comes 20 years after his first appearance and ends a career with La Albiceleste that…
Page A8From§Eachthe matinee edition — 31 August 2026
Messi retires after two decades, exits Argentina squad at 39, announces retirement again
This reporter is compelled to note that Lionel Messi, the famed Argentinian footballer, has retired from international competition after nearly two decades of play, aged 39. CBS News, the Morning Star, and NBC News each mark his departure, and then, curiously, his announcement of retirement again. The sequence is reminiscent of the greats who, like Brett Favre or Michael Jordan, found the process of leaving the game as complicated as playing it. The repetition—retiring, then announcing retirement, then confirming retirement—suggests that perhaps the paperwork of exit is almost as challenging as the World Cup itself. It is a testament to Messi's longevity, his commitment to Argentina's squad, and the ceremonial nature of departure in modern sport. The legacy is written in goals, assists, and now, in retirement notices. TRUDY: Gus, it's not complicated. He played nearly twenty years, won everything there is, and at 39, he's done. NBC News and CBS News ran the numbers: two decades, multiple Ballons d'Or, and the respect of every living player. The only thing complicated is why the press can't let a legend leave in peace. Sugar, that's the record.
“Messi plays for two decades, retires from Argentina at 39, and then retires again. You'd think they'd let the guy sit down once, but he has to announce it twice. The legend's last act is paperwork.”
“Well, Messi had an incredible run, and retirement is a natural progression for any athlete. If he wants to make sure everyone knows, that's his prerogative. It's not a big deal—wait, did I say not a big deal? I mean, it's a huge loss for Argentina, obviously, but they'll recover.”
The receipts
Lionel Messi announced his retirement from Argentina's national soccer team on Monday via social media. Messi still plays for Inter Miami CF.
This page is a back-issue: the story as it ran, receipts as they were. The current edition is at the front.