The 2022 World Cup final against France stands above the restAfter losing the 2014 final to Germany, Messi finally lifted the World Cup in Qatar
Published: September 1, 2026, 8:24 AM IST
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Argentina’s Lionel Messi sits with his wife Antonella Roccuzzo after the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Sunday, Dec18, 2022.(Photo:Suman Chattopadhyay/IANS)
Lionel Messi has brought the curtain down on his international career after 21 years with ArgentinaFrom his debut in 2005 to his final appearance in 2026, Messi gave Argentina some of the biggest moments in their football historyHe finished with 207 appearances and 125 goals for his country.
Argentina 3-3 France, 2022 World Cup final
The 2022 World Cup final against France stands above the restAfter losing the 2014 final to Germany, Messi finally lifted the World Cup in QatarHe scored twice in a thrilling 3-3 draw before Argentina won the penalty shootoutMessi finished the tournament with seven goals and won the Golden Ball.
Read more:
Lionel Messi retirement: Here are some of the top international records of the Argentinian ‘GOAT’
Argentina 3-0 Ecuador, 2021 Copa America quarter-final
Messi played a major role in Argentina’s win over Ecuador in the 2021 Copa America quarter-finalHe provided assists for Rodrigo De Paul and Lautaro Martinez before scoring a free-kick in added timeArgentina won 3-0 and went on to beat Brazil in the final, giving Messi his first major senior international trophy.
Also Read: Lionel Messi retirement: Here are some of the top international records of the Argentinian ‘GOAT’
Argentina 2-1 England, 2026 World Cup semi-final
Messi was again at the centre of Argentina’s run to the 2026 World Cup finalAgainst England in the semi-final, Argentina fell behind to Anthony Gordon’s goal but fought backMessi assisted Enzo Fernandez for the equaliser before setting up Lautaro Martinez for the winner.
Argentina 3-0 Algeria, 2026 World Cup group stage
Messi’s 2026 World Cup campaign began with a hat-trick against AlgeriaHe scored three times in Argentina’s 3-0 win and became the oldest player to score a hat-trick at the World CupThe match also marked his sixth appearance at the tournament.
Argentina 2-0 Austria, 2026 World Cup group stage
Messi scored twice against Austria in the group stage and briefly became the leading scorer in World Cup history, moving past Germany’s Miroslav KloseHe eventually finished the tournament with 21 World Cup goals, before Kylian Mbappe moved ahead of him with 22.
Messi’s international career also had its difficult momentsArgentina lost three straight finals between 2014 and 2016, including the 2014 World Cup final and the 2015 and 2016 Copa America finalsHe briefly retired from international football in 2016 before returning.
The comeback changed the storyMessi eventually won the 2021 Copa America, the 2022 World Cup and the 2024 Copa AmericaAfter more than two decades with Argentina, he leaves as the country’s record appearance holder and leading scorer, with a collection of trophies and memories that will be difficult to match.
