Messi retires from Argentina duty as MLS names him Player of the Matchday (2026)

Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from Argentina's national team. ESPN reported the decision at 03:01 on Sept. 1, 2026, in Asia/Shanghai, and Messi's own Instagram post is dated Aug. 31. 1 2

The announcement ends Messi's Argentina career while leaving his Inter Miami career in place. On the same news cycle, MLS named him Player of the Matchday after his four-goal, one-assist performance against CF Montréal. 3 4

Argentina decision

Messi wrote, "I am retiring from the National Team," and said the decision hurt, but he understood that the time had come. He also wrote that he had drafted the message on July 21, two days after the World Cup final, and that his father's death had strengthened his decision. 2 3

What it closes

MLS lists 207 appearances, 125 goals and 68 assists for Messi with Argentina, all national-team records. ESPN described the announcement as his second retirement from international duty, after his brief 2016 retirement. 1 3

Messi's final Argentina appearance was the 2026 World Cup final, a 1-0 loss to Spain. MLS also records his two Copa América titles, the 2022 World Cup and World Cup finals in 2014, 2022 and 2026. 3

Club update

The Montréal match happened on Saturday, Aug. 29, in Miami, or Aug. 30 in Asia/Shanghai. Inter Miami won 7-1, Messi scored four times and assisted Luis Suárez, and the result ended Miami's five-match winless run in all competitions. 4 5

MLS says the performance made Messi the 19th player in league history to score four goals in one regular-season match. He also became the fastest player to reach 20 regular-season multigoal games, doing so in 72 appearances, and won his 15th MLS Player of the Matchday award. 4

Confirmed vs. still open

Confirmed

Messi has retired from Argentina's national team. 2
MLS selected Messi as Player of the Matchday for Matchday 23. 4
Inter Miami's next match is against Atlanta United on Saturday, Sept. 5, at 7:30 p.m. ET, which is 07:30 on Sunday, Sept. 6, in Asia/Shanghai. 4

Still open

Inter Miami's starting XI against Atlanta.
Messi's minutes and workload in that match.

Messi's Argentina chapter is closed by his own announcement. His next appearance remains a club question, with Inter Miami carrying the immediate schedule.