Lionel Messi Retirement: ‘I Have Nothing More To Give' - Read Argentina Great's Full Farewell Message

New Delhi, Aug 31: Lionel Messi's decision to retire from international football was accompanied by an emotional message in which the Argentina great spoke about the pain of walking away, his love for the national team, the emergence of a new generation and the pride he feels over everything he achieved in the famous blue and white shirt.

Rather than focussing on his career achievements, the legendary striker - the Greatest of All Time - centred his farewell message on the personal side of his decision.

Messi - who finished his Argentina career with 125 international goals in 207 appearances - said he had spent considerable time thinking about retirement since the World Cup final and acknowledged that the decision continued to hurt.

"After all this time since the final, and after thinking about it a lot, I want to tell everyone that I'm retiring from the national team," he said.

"It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep inside, but I understand that this is the right moment."

'I gave everything I had'

Messi was keen to stress that his commitment to Argentina extended beyond the period in which he and the team finally began collecting major trophies.

"I swear I always gave everything, not only in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too," he said.

"I always fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you happiness and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football."

The 39-year-old acknowledged that his international career was entering its final chapter and said there was nothing more he could give to the national team.

"There isn't much time left, and different chapters are coming to an end. This is one that hurts me a lot," Messi said.

"I love, I loved, and I will always love being part of the national team. I gave everything I had, and I don't have anything more to give."

Messi points to Argentina's next generation

While announcing his own departure, Messi also looked towards the future of Argentine football.

"Also, there are great young players coming through who deserve to be here," he said.

His message suggested that his decision was also about making room for the next generation as Argentina begins another phase.

A message to the Argentina fans

Messi's strongest emotional note was reserved for the supporters who followed him throughout his international career.

"Thank you for all the love during these 20 years. I'm going to miss hearing you from the inside," he said.

"Now I'll be one of you, always supporting from the outside, in the good times and even more in the bad ones."

The Argentina captain also thanked his family, coaches, teammates and directors who accompanied him throughout what he described as a beautiful but difficult journey.

"Thank you to my family for always being there and for being with me throughout this beautiful but difficult journey," Messi said.

"Thank you to every coach, teammate and director I had the chance to share it with. I take with me unforgettable memories and moments."

'I leave with peace and pride'

Despite the pain of saying goodbye, Messi said he was leaving the national team with a sense of fulfilment.

"I leave with peace and pride, knowing that together with my teammates we gave you moments we once dreamed of," he said.

"It was crazy to experience all of this with you. I love you!"

Messi ended his message with a deeply personal expression of his connection to Argentina.

"Thank you God for making me Argentine."

"Vamos Argentina!"

Messi reveals when he made the decision

Messi also revealed that he had written his farewell message shortly after the World Cup final, but said a subsequent family development had strengthened his resolve.

"I wrote these words on July 21, two days after the final," he said.

"Today, after what happened with my dad, I'm even more convinced of this decision than before."

After more than two decades with Argentina, Messi's farewell was therefore less about looking back at the trophies and records and more about explaining why he believes it is time to step aside.

His final message was one of gratitude - to the supporters, his family and those who shared the journey with him - while making clear that retirement will not mean turning his back on Argentina.

"Now I'll be one of you," Messi said, promising to support the national team from the outside.