Lionel Messi has confirmed his retirement from international football after more than 20 years of a career that started with Argentina’s U-20 team and ended with him as the senior national team captain.

Messi, who announced his retirement on Monday, said he had given his country his best and had “nothing more to give.”

He revealed that he had reached the decision shortly after the 2026 World Cup final and had become even more convinced following the death of his father.

Here is a list of his landmark achievements and unwanted records with La Albiceleste.

Major achievements and records

1. Three major titles: Led Argentina to the 2021 Copa América, 2022 FIFA World Cup and 2024 Copa América titles.

2. Goal involvement: Directly involved in 185 goals across 207 matches, scoring 125 goals and providing 60 assists.

3. Dominant left foot: Scored over 110 of his 125 international goals with his left foot.

4. Most World Cups played: Featured in six World Cup tournaments, a record no other player has matched.

5. World Cup appearance and contribution records: Holds the records for most World Cup appearances (34), most matches won (23), most assists (12) and most goals scored from outside the penalty area (six).

7. Three World Cup finals started: One of the few players to have started three World Cup finals — 2014, 2022 and 2026.

8. Oldest outfield player in a World Cup final: Aged 39 years and 25 days in the 2026 final.

9. Most major-tournament goals in men’s history: Scored 35 goals across the World Cup, Copa América and other continental competitions.

10. 11 international hat-tricks: Scored 11 hat-tricks for Argentina, including one in Argentina’s opening match of the 2026 World Cup.

11. World Cup goals: Scored 21 goals, briefly holding the all-time men’s record during the 2026 tournament before being overtaken by Kylian Mbappé, who reached 22.

Unwanted records and low points

1. World Cup penalties: Messi has scored seven World Cup penalties and missed three. He is the first player in World Cup history to miss two penalties at a single edition (2026), excluding shootouts.

2. Disastrous debut: Made his Argentina debut as a substitute against Hungary on August 17, 2005, and was sent off within a minute after being judged to have elbowed Vilmos Vanczák.

3. Second international retirement: Previously announced his retirement from international football after Argentina’s defeat to Chile in the 2016 Copa América final before reversing the decision.

4. No perfect farewell: His international career ended with a World Cup final defeat rather than a fourth major title.

Messi’s Argentina career began with a red card and finished without the ultimate Hollywood ending. However, the trophies, individual records and leadership of a golden generation leave a remarkable legacy.