Gabriel Batistuta is the second-highest scorer in Argentina’s history. He is on 54.
That is the mathematical shape of the record Messi has left behind. His 125 goals in 207 appearances for La Albiceleste, over a career that began in 2005, do not just top the record book. They redraw it. Batistuta, whose last international goal was scored more than two decades ago, would need to more than double his total to catch up. Third-place Sergio Agüero, on 41 goals, is a third of the way there.
The gap in appearances is just as wide. Javier Mascherano, now the head coach of Messi’s club Inter Miami, held the caps record with 147 until Messi passed him in June 2021. Ángel Di María and Javier Zanetti are next on that list.
The 39-year-old announced the decision on his Instagram account on Monday.
Read also: £117m Rogers scores on Chelsea debut in Alonso's opener
“It was a decision that hurt, and still hurts deeply, but I understand that the time has come,” he wrote.
The Argentine Football Association replied with a short line: “Thank you for everything, Leo. Thank you for representing Argentina.”
Batistuta’s 10 goals is the next-best Argentine tally
Messi’s World Cup output stands even further from the pack. He played six tournaments between 2006 and 2026, scoring 21 goals across 34 matches. That total left him one goal off Kylian Mbappé, who passed him with a brace in the third-place play-off in July to move to 22. Miroslav Klose’s 16 goals, the previous all-time mark, are now the third-best return in the tournament’s history.
No other Argentine is close. Batistuta’s 10 World Cup goals across 1994, 1998 and 2002 remain the country’s second-highest tally at the tournament.
Messi captained Argentina in three World Cup finals: 2014 in Brazil, 2022 in Qatar, and this year’s 1-0 extra-time loss to Spain at MetLife Stadium on 19 July. Ferran Torres scored the winner in the 106th minute after Enzo Fernández was sent off for a second yellow card at the end of the second half.
Scaloni is not committing to the rebuild
Lionel Scaloni, the coach who lifted the 2022 World Cup with Messi, may not be part of what comes next. His contract runs to December 2026, and after the MetLife defeat he set out his position plainly.
“I will continue as Argentina coach until December, then probably I will stop,” Scaloni told reporters.
He added: “In order to continue, you need a great deal of things: resetting your mind, rebooting, creating a group like this again, that is very difficult.”
Read also: Man United linked with sensational late Osimhen move on deadline day
Paz, Martínez and Álvarez inherit different pieces
Rather than looking for the next Messi, analysts have started distributing the roles across a new generation of forwards and creators.
“Paz is not Messi, and attempting to turn him into Messi would be a mistake,” Forbes wrote of Como midfielder Nico Paz, who is being tipped to inherit the creative work.
Paz scored 12 goals and provided 6 assists in Serie A in 2025-26.
Lautaro Martínez, Argentina’s fourth-highest scorer on 40 goals, and Julián Álvarez remain the leading attackers in the squad. Neither is on double figures at World Cups.
Read also: Norris goes public: McLaren's deficit to Mercedes is 'crazy' and he wants the team to fix it
Messi will continue at Inter Miami in Major League Soccer.
Read also: Real Madrid hold out for €70m as Camavinga deadline-day exit stalls
