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Football icon Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football on Monday, saying goodbye to Argentina in a heartfelt message posted on social media.
"After the time that has passed since the final, and after giving it a lot of thought, I want to let everyone know that I am retiring from the National Team," the 39-year-old wrote, alongside a handwritten note.
"It was a decision that hurt, and still hurts, to my core, but I understand that it's the right time. I swear that I always gave my all, not just in the last few years when we won everything, but before that too. I always fought and gave everything for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you proud to be Argentinian through football."
Messi departs a world stage on which he delivered breathtaking performances for Argentina across more than two decades, netting 125 goals in 207 caps and claiming two Copa América titles and one World Cup along the way. He came agonizingly close to a historic back-to-back World Cup triumph as well, falling to Spain 1–0 in the championship match this summer.
The compact No. 10 is the very soul of the Argentina side, and even at 39, served as the squad's primary driving force in his record sixth consecutive World Cup, contributing eight goals and four assists. La Albiceleste can barely imagine a squad without him, but as Messi takes his final bow, the time has come for them to do exactly that.
Who might be waiting in the wings, capable of becoming the next No. 10?
Lionel Messi's Argentinian Successor
No one can truly replace Lionel Messi. His influence is unmatched, as are his accomplishments on the field.
Messi's teammates don't merely look up to him — they revere him. Just observe how everyone would halt in the players' tunnel until Messi walked past, taking his rightful place at the front of the line. These $100 million midfielders and Europe's most coveted club players grew up watching Messi, studying his every move, begging for photos and, in some cases, even penning him heartfelt letters.
Messi's exit will leave a gaping hole in the attack. He contributed to 12 of Argentina's 19 goals this summer, a staggering 63%. That figure is partly a reflection of younger players' eagerness to find their idol on the ball, yet the attacking burden must be more evenly shared in the post-Messi era.
Argentina may never produce another Messi, and will likely need to rely on a collective effort to compensate for his absence. Even so, they will require a new talisman — one to stand at the center of both leadership and creativity as the team strives to remain at the pinnacle of international football.
Julián Alvarez
Julián Alvarez is the most natural choice. The striker was the coveted prize in a transfer battle between Atlético Madrid and pursuing clubs Arsenal and Barcelona. It was the most sensational transfer saga of the summer, with the Premier League champions attempting and failing to swoop in after Atléti made abundantly clear — on multiple occasions — their unwillingness to sell their star to the Spanish rival and two-time La Liga winners.
For all the excitement Alvarez has generated across Europe, he had a relatively subdued World Cup campaign. He worked his way into the starting eleven — lining up alongside Messi in attack — by the group stage finale against Jordan. He managed just a single goal, a right-footed strike to break the 1–1 deadlock with Switzerland in extra time of the quarterfinal.
The Argentine is capable of extraordinary things, which explains the widespread obsession with him across Europe. He departed Manchester City for Atlético in August 2024 in a then club-record deal worth $104 million (€95 million, £81.5 million). In his debut season in the Spanish capital, he registered 17 goals and four assists in 30 league starts.
He will likely be handed the torch, entrusted with leading the post-Messi era, which kicks off competitively with the 2028 Copa América.
Giuliano Simeone
Alvarez's Atlético Madrid clubmate, Giuliano Simeone, the youngest son of Atléti head coach Diego Simeone, also has the potential to step into Messi's shoes.
The 23-year-old forward, who received his first senior call-up in 2024, announced himself on the international stage in March 2025 with a goal in World Cup qualifying against fierce rivals Brazil, capping a 4–1 rout with a 71st-minute finish from a tight angle. He was greeted with thunderous applause from more than 85,000 fans at Más Monumental.
Simeone didn't make his World Cup debut until the group stage finale against Jordan, featuring for 71 minutes at right midfield in the 3–1 win. He appeared there again in the semifinal against England, linking up down the right flank with Messi, who provided two assists in the thrilling 2–1 comeback victory. Simeone then played 50 minutes in the World Cup final.
Since returning from North America, Simeone has been in outstanding form in La Liga. Last week, he rescued a late draw against Villarreal for a ten-man Madrid side, contributing a goal and an assist in the 2–2 result. His 85th-minute equalizer came from a run in behind Villarreal's backline, finishing with a sliding effort at the back post.
Nico Paz
The most thrilling candidate to eventually succeed Messi is Nico Paz, Argentina's youngest squad member this summer.
The 21-year-old attacker made his senior debut in 2024. He didn't have a major on-field impact at the 2026 World Cup; however, he provided a lively and inventive option from the bench. The experience he accumulated was priceless, learning directly from Messi, who is nearly twice his age.
He came on for the football legend in the 80th minute of the group stage opener against Algeria, following Messi's heroic hat-trick display. Paz then started in midfield in the match against Jordan, orchestrating play behind the front two of Alvarez and Lautaro Martínez, before again stepping in for Messi in the second half. The youngster delivered an impressive performance against the tournament newcomers.
Paz is a regular starter for Como, where he recorded 12 goals and six assists last season. This year, he will gain the added experience of Champions League football, as the Serie A club makes its first-ever appearance in Europe's most prestigious club competition.