The day Argentina has dreaded has finally arrived: national team captain Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football.
Messi, 39, announced his decision in an Instagram post addressed directly to supporters and his millions of fans across the country.
"It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deeply, but I understand that the time has come. I swear to you that I always gave everything, not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too.
"I always fought and gave everything I had for this shirt, to give you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football," continued the star, who is widely considered one of the greatest footballers of all time.
Messi's decision comes just 43 days after he led Argentina onto the pitch at the New York/New Jersey Stadium in East Rutherford for a second successive World Cup final, a match the Albiceleste lost 1-0 to Spain.
The star revealed that he had written the message on July 21, two days after the defeat in the final.
Messi previously led Argentina to glory at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, when the team beat France in a penalty shoot-out, capping a dramatic final in Doha that secured the nation's third world title.
After the defeat by Spain and following the death of his father, Jorge, in August, Messi had said he had "serious doubts" about continuing to play football of any sort for "much longer."
Messi's current contract with Major League Soccer club Inter Miami runs until the end of the 2028 season.
It is unclear whether he intends to extend the deal, although in his post the former Barcelona and PSG star said "there isn't much time left and chapters are coming to an end."
"This is one that hurts me a lot," he wrote. "I love, loved and will always love being part of the national team. I gave everything I had, I have nothing more to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming through who deserve to be there."
Messi closed his message by thanking the nation for its support, adding that he would now become one of them again.
"Thank you for all the affection over these 20 years. I am going to miss hearing you from inside the stadium very much. Now I am going to be one of you, always cheering and supporting from the outside (in the good times and the bad, even more so).
"Thank you to my family for always being there, for accompanying me on this beautiful but difficult journey. Thank you to every coach, team-mate and official I had the chance to share it with. I am taking with me unforgettable memories and moments.
"I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you, together with my team-mates, moments we could only have dreamed of. It was crazy to have lived through it with you. I love you!"
Messi ended his message with the words: "Thank you, God, for making me Argentine. Vamos Argentina!"
Argentina's skipper retires with a record of 207 appearances and 125 goals, making him the nation's most-capped player and all-time leading scorer. He first took on the captaincy in 2011.
He has won six titles while representing the national team: the World Cup in 2022, two Copa Américas in 2021 and 2024, the Finalissima in 2022, as well as two youth titles (Olympic Gold Medal in 2008) and the U-20 World Cup in 2005.
Messi appeared at six World Cups in Argentina's colours and is, alongside Brazil's Cafú, one of only two footballers to have appeared in three finals at the tournament.
The star's relationship with the national team, however, has not always been an easy one. Despite his extraordinary success at club level, international glory eluded him for years, with Argentina losing the 2014 World Cup final to Germany and then suffering back-to-back Copa América final defeats in 2015 and 2016.
After Chile beat Argentina on penalties in the 2016 Copa América final, Messi briefly announced his retirement from international football, saying he had "done everything I could."
His retirement lasted only a few months. After an outpouring of support from fans and calls for him to return, Messi reversed his decision and was back in the Argentina squad a few months later, continuing a journey that would eventually deliver the success that had once seemed so elusive.
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