@nprAug 31, 2026 · 0:58 · original sound - npr
Argentina superstar Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international soccer on Monday, ending 21 years of national-team duty that were capped by winning the World Cup in 2022 to secure his place in the pantheon of the game's greatest ever players. "It was a decision that hurt — and still hurts deeply — but I understand that the time has come," the 39-year-old Messi said on his Instagram account. Messi, who will continue to play at club level with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, played in a record-tying six World Cups. Find “NPR News Now” wherever you listen to podcasts. Host: Lakshmi Singh/NPR Reporter: John Bartlett/NPR Producer: Zayrha Rodriguez/NPR
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