Paredes suggests 39-year-old Messi has already bowed out for Argentina

Leandro Paredes believes Lionel Messi has already played his final match for Argentina, revealing the captain has “made his decision” after the World Cup defeat by Spain in New Jersey.

Messi, 39, scored eight goals and almost single-handedly carried Argentina to the World Cup final, where they lost 1-0 to Spain. Despite a subdued display for most of the showpiece, the Inter Miami forward nearly inspired a late turnaround in the closing stages.

His overall performances across the tournament were widely hailed as another remarkable chapter in a career that has spanned two decades at the top level, with many observers struck by his ability to lead Argentina at such an advanced age while playing his club football in the less demanding environment of Major League Soccer.

‘He has made his decision’

However, the final at MetLife Stadium now appears likely to have been his last appearance on the international stage.

Paredes, a long-time team-mate of Messi with the national side, indicated that the Argentina captain has chosen to step away from international football, even if that decision has not yet been formally announced.

Speaking after a recent outing with Boca Juniors, Paredes told Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo: “I think he has made his decision, and that it really was his last game with the national team.

“I hope it’s not the case, and I hope he can keep playing, but the decision is his in the end. Whatever makes him happy will definitely make us happy, so we hope for that, we hope he carries on.”

Fears over ‘last dance’ in New Jersey

In the build-up to the final in New Jersey, there had been growing speculation that it could be Messi’s “last dance” with Argentina, given both his age and the physical toll of another World Cup campaign.

Those fears intensified once the final whistle blew on the narrow defeat by Spain, with many supporters and pundits assuming that the match marked the end of an era for the world champions’ talisman.

Paredes’ comments now appear to confirm those suspicions, even as he and other Argentina players cling to the hope that Messi might reconsider and extend his international career.

Legacy under Scaloni

Messi’s contribution to Argentina’s recent success has been transformative, especially during the tenure of head coach Lionel Scaloni.

Under Scaloni, Argentina ended a long wait for major honours by lifting two Copa America titles, winning the World Cup and securing the CONMEBOL–UEFA Finalissima, with Messi central to each of those triumphs.

That run of silverware cemented his status among team-mates and supporters, who regard him not only as the side’s outstanding player but also as its enduring leader and reference point.

Reflecting on the emotional weight of what may have been Messi’s farewell, Paredes admitted the squad had been reluctant to confront the possibility during the tournament itself.

“It’s painful,” he said. “Because I think we were repeating it throughout the World Cup – we didn’t want that last game to come, we didn’t want it at all.”

While Messi has not publicly confirmed his international retirement, Paredes’ remarks suggest Argentina’s iconic No 10 has privately closed the chapter on his national-team career, leaving the football world to await any final word from the player himself.