End Of An Era - Messi, The Greatest Soccer Player We've Ever Seen, Just Went On Instagram And Officially Retired From Playing For Argentina

[Statement] - “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… "It was a decision that hurt and still hurts deep inside, but I understand that this is the right moment. "I swear I always gave everything, not only in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too. I always fought and gave everything for this shirt, to bring you happiness and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football. "There isn’t much time left, and different chapters are coming to an end. This is one that hurts me a lot. 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. "Also, there are great young players coming through who deserve to be here. "Thank you for all the love during these 20 years. I’m going to miss hearing you from the inside. Now I’ll be one of you, always supporting from the outside, in the good times and even more in the bad ones. "Thank you to my family for always being there and for being with me throughout this beautiful but difficult journey. 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, knowing that together with my teammates we gave you moments we once dreamed of. It was crazy to experience all of this with you. I love you! "Thank you God for making me Argentine. "Vamos Argentina! "I wrote these words on July 21, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my dad, I’m even more convinced of this decision than before.”

It's not exactly shocking that Messi is retiring from Argentina, but at the same time he felt like he would play forever. He's 39 years old and still putting on an all-time show at the World Cup. He was the one who was out there bringing them to a World Cup final and mastered the ability to dominate the game when he had to. I'm also aware this isn't the first time he retired from Argentina. 

But what else is there to accomplish? Won a World Cup. Got all the goals, records and everything. He's the best player we've ever seen in the game. It's not like he has to hang around for another 4 years to play a game just because Argentina is hosting one game in the 2030 World Cup. Then again, I wouldn't be surprised if he comes back for one more game there. Like he said in his retirement post though, he wrote those words 2 days after the Final. In terms of his dad, he died recently and people thought maybe that clouded some of his decision making. That's why he's putting the clarification there. 

So this time it feels real. It feels like he's ready to have a couple more years at Inter Miami and then hang out with his smoke wife and watch his kids become stars for the US National Team. We gotta find a way to get a Messi or two on the US team. Dude was just so fun to watch. I know people like to shit on him getting calls and that sort of stuff, not me. I'm a Messi guy. Hell of a run.