Top 5 Memorable Lionel Messi Moments

Lionel Messi announced on August 31, 2026, that he is retiring from international football. The 39-year-old made the announcement through a post on Instagram, stating that the decision hurt and still hurts deep in his soul but he understands that it is the right time. Messi added that he always gave everything for the Argentina shirt, not just in the recent years when the team won everything but before that too, and he always fought and gave his all.

His decision comes after he led Argentina to a second successive World Cup final in July 2026. Argentina had won the 2022 World Cup final against France in a penalty shootout in Doha, but his side lost 1-0 to Spain in the 2026 final. The final match was played in East Rutherford, New Jersey, near New York on July 19, 2026.

The retirement announcement follows a difficult period in Messi’s personal life. Following the death of his father Jorge on August 8, 2026, Messi had said he had serious doubts about continuing to play football of any sort for much longer.

Despite retiring from international duty, Messi continues his club career. His contract with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami runs until the end of the 2028 season. The FIFA president and Angel Di Maria have paid glowing tributes to Messi, acknowledging his status as the greatest of all time.

Top 5 Memorable Lionel Messi Moments

1. Lifting the 2022 World Cup in Qatar

The crowning achievement that ended the greatest debate, this is the moment that transcends all others. After nearly two decades of waiting, Messi finally led Argentina to World Cup glory in Qatar. The final against France is widely considered one of the greatest matches in World Cup history. It was a see-saw battle of epic proportions. Argentina took a 2-0 lead through a Messi penalty, only for Kylian Mbappe to score two goals in 100 seconds to force extra time. Messi then scored again to put Argentina ahead, but Mbappe completed his hat-trick to send the game to a penalty shootout. Messi calmly converted his spot-kick in the shootout, and Argentina won 4-2.

2. Breaking the Drought at the 2021 Copa América

The first senior trophy that lifted a nation’s weight came in 2021. Before this tournament, Messi’s Argentina career was defined by “what ifs.” Three major final defeats in the 2014 World Cup, and the 2015 and 2016 Copas America, had left a deep scar. After the 2016 defeat, a devastated Messi even temporarily retired from international football. The 2021 Copa América final against Brazil at the iconic Maracanã Stadium was the moment everything changed. A solitary goal from his long-time teammate Ángel Di María secured a 1-0 victory. At 34, Messi had finally won his first major senior international trophy. He finished the tournament with four goals and five assists, winning the Golden Ball as the best player.

3. The World Cup Debut That Announced a Star in 2006

The first glimpse of greatness for a global audience came at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. At just 18 years old, Messi came off the bench in Argentina’s group stage match against Serbia and Montenegro. It didn’t take him long to make an impact. He provided an assist for Hernán Crespo and then scored Argentina’s sixth goal in a 6-0 victory. In doing so, he became the youngest Argentine to score at a World Cup. His performance marked the moment the world realized he was the future of Argentine football.3

4. Becoming Argentina’s All-Time Top Scorer in 2016

A landmark achievement that silenced doubters, this moment came in November 2016 when Lionel Messi wrote his name into the history books by becoming Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer. The record was previously held by the legendary Gabriel Batistuta with 56 goals. Messi achieved the feat in a World Cup qualifier against Colombia, scoring his 57th and 58th international goals in a 3-0 victory. This moment was significant for several reasons. It was a clear statistical marker of his brilliance, surpassing a legend of Argentine football. It came just months after his temporary retirement from the national team.

5. The Golden Ball and World Cup Final Heartbreak in 2014

A moment of personal triumph overshadowed by collective agony, the 2014 World Cup in Brazil was supposed to be Messi’s coronation. He was magnificent, dragging a less-fancied Argentina side to their first World Cup final in 24 years. He scored four crucial goals in the group stage, single-handedly winning matches for his country. For his efforts, he was awarded the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player. However, the final was a bridge too far. Argentina lost 1-0 to Germany in extra time. The image of Messi, hands on his hips and shoulders hunched as he watched Germany celebrate, became a symbol of his international heartbreak. His final act of the tournament was sending a free-kick high over the bar, wasting Argentina’s last chance.