Argentina captain Lionel Messi reportedly informed his teammates that he was retiring from international football before their FIFA World Cup final defeat to Spain, according to football pundit Yanina Latorre.
Latorre claimed the Inter Miami star delivered an emotional farewell speech in the dressing room before Sunday’s final at the New York New Jersey Stadium, leaving several Argentina players in tears.
According to her, Messi urged his teammates to put the emotional moment behind them and focus on the task of defending their World Cup title against Spain.
“I already told it on the radio. Nothing happened, it was Messi’s farewell speech in the locker room. The end of the Messi era with the national team, and everyone broke down. It was all very emotional and it’s logical, they’re human beings,” Latorre wrote on X.
Argentina’s hopes of winning back-to-back World Cup titles ended after Ferran Torres scored the decisive goal in the second half of extra time to hand Spain victory.
Messi, who turned 39 during the tournament, struggled to make his usual impact in the final despite playing a pivotal role throughout Argentina’s campaign.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner featured in his sixth FIFA World Cup, a tournament widely expected to be his last, as he would be 43 by the time the next edition is held.
Although Messi has yet to officially confirm his retirement from international football, speculation has intensified following Latorre’s claims.
The Argentine legend had previously received a farewell tribute after what was described as his final competitive appearance for the national team in September 2025, when Argentina defeated Venezuela 3-0 in a World Cup qualifier.
Despite questions over his future, Messi impressed at the 2026 World Cup, registering eight goals and four assists in eight matches. He narrowly missed out on the Golden Ball and Golden Boot awards, finishing behind Spain’s Rodri and France’s Kylian Mbappe, respectively.
Should he decide to retire, Messi would end his international career as Argentina’s all-time leading scorer, with 125 goals and 68 assists in 207 appearances.