Lionel Messi : The goals, trophies and records that define his career
Lionel Messi has ended his international career at 39, closing a 21-year run with Argentina in which he became the country's most-capped player and leading scorer and won the World Cup and two Copa América titles.
Messi made his Argentina debut in 2005, when he was 18. He leaves the national team with 207 appearances, 125 goals and 68 assists.
His Argentina career had its share of difficult years before the trophies arrived. He lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany and was part of Argentina's teams that lost the Copa América finals in 2015 and 2016.
After the 2016 defeat to Chile, Messi announced his retirement from international football. He returned soon afterwards and stayed with the national team.
The breakthrough came in 2021.
Argentina beat Brazil 1-0 at the Maracanã to win the Copa América. It was Messi's first major international trophy with the senior team.
A year later, he won the biggest one.
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Messi scored seven goals as Argentina reached the final against France. He scored twice in the match and also converted his penalty in the shoot-out as Argentina won the World Cup.
Argentina won the Copa América again in 2024, beating Colombia in the final.
Messi's sixth and final World Cup came in 2026. Argentina reached the final but lost to Spain in extra time.
From Rosario to Barcelona
Messi grew up in Rosario and began playing football at a very young age. He was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency, and his family struggled with the cost of his treatment.
Barcelona agreed to pay for his treatment and brought Messi and his family to Spain when he was 13. He joined La Masia and moved through the club's youth teams before making his first-team debut in 2004, aged 17.
He stayed at Barcelona for 17 seasons.
Messi scored 672 goals in 778 appearances for the club. He won 10 La Liga titles, four Champions League trophies and seven Copa del Rey titles.
Six of his eight Ballon d'Or awards came during his time at Barcelona.
In 2012, Messi scored 91 goals for club and country in a calendar year. The record still stands.
His Barcelona career ended in 2021. The club's financial problems meant it could not register his new contract, bringing an end to a relationship that had lasted almost two decades.
Messi left in tears during his farewell press conference.
Paris Saint-Germain
Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.
The move did not produce the same numbers or performances that had become routine during his Barcelona years. He scored 11 goals in his first season and needed time to adjust after spending his entire senior career at one club.
His second season was better, and he helped PSG win the Ligue 1 title.
After two seasons in France, Messi left the club in 2023.
Inter Miami
Messi moved to Inter Miami in 2023.
It was expected to be a different kind of challenge as he entered the later years of his career. Instead, he quickly became the biggest name in Major League Soccer.
He won the Leagues Cup with Miami soon after joining and has continued to score regularly.
Messi scored 46 goals in 2025 and has scored 39 this season. His total for Inter Miami has reached 90 goals across MLS and cup competitions.
His arrival also brought a major increase in attention to MLS, both in the United States and internationally.
The numbers
Messi's club and international career has produced around 927 goals and 460 assists.
He has won 43 major honours, including 10 La Liga titles, four Champions League trophies, two Ligue 1 titles, two Copa América titles and the 2022 World Cup.
He has also won the Ballon d'Or eight times, more than any other player.
For Argentina, his final figures are 207 appearances, 125 goals and 68 assists. No Argentine player has played more matches or scored more goals for the national team.
Messi made his Argentina debut at 18 and finished at 39 with the World Cup, two Copa América titles and the major individual records belonging to him.
The international career that began in 2005 is now over.
