Paredes reveals Messi planned international retirement after World Cup final defeat to Spain

Leandro Paredes has revealed that Lionel Messi intended to end his international career with Argentina after the 2026 World Cup final defeat by Spain, and says he is desperate for his captain to reconsider.

Argentina were beaten 1-0 by Spain in a dramatic World Cup final, denying Messi a second consecutive global title with the national team.

Speaking to reporters after the match, Paredes said Messi had viewed the showpiece as his farewell on the international stage.

“I think he had already decided that the game against Spain would be his last match for the Argentina national team,” the midfielder said.

The Roma player made clear, however, that the squad are hoping Messi will reverse that decision.

“I hope it won’t be like that, and I hope he keeps playing,” Paredes added.

He stressed that the final say would rest entirely with the 39-year-old captain, who has long been the defining figure of the Argentina side.

“It will be his decision alone, and whatever makes him happy will make us happy as well,” Paredes continued. “I really hope he stays with us.”

The midfielder admitted the prospect of losing Messi from the international set-up had weighed on the team throughout the tournament in North America.

“It’s painful, because throughout the World Cup we were saying we didn’t want his last game with the national team to come, and we didn’t want that day to arrive,” he said.

Messi’s Argentina legacy

Messi’s international record with Argentina currently stands at 207 appearances, with 125 goals scored and 68 assists provided.

The forward made his senior debut for Argentina in 2005 and has since become the country’s most-capped player and all-time leading scorer.

He has captained Argentina through multiple major tournaments, including World Cups and Copa America campaigns, and led them to World Cup glory in 2022.

The defeat by Spain in the 2026 final has again raised the question of how long Messi will continue at international level, with Paredes’ comments the clearest indication yet that retirement is under serious consideration.

While Messi has not yet spoken publicly about his plans following the loss to Spain, Paredes’ remarks underline the emotional impact within the Argentina camp at the possibility of his international career coming to an end.

For now, both team-mates and supporters face an anxious wait to discover whether the captain will confirm his intention to step away – or choose to extend his record-breaking journey with the national side.