Lionel Messi retires from international football

Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football, stating it was a decision that "hurt" him but that "the time has come." The 39-year-old, who is Argentina's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player, said he has given everything to the national team but now has "nothing left to give." Messi's retirement follows a period of reflection after the death of his father, and he expressed his belief that younger players deserve their chance. He shared that he wrote his retirement message on July 21, just two days after Argentina's loss to Spain in the World Cup final.