Inter Miami attacker Lionel Messi is also his country's all-time leading goalscorer with 125 goals, including 21 at World Cups, and has supplied 68 assists since making his international debut in August 2005. Photo: Getty Images

Inter Miami attacker Messi is also his country's all-time leading goalscorer with 125 goals, including 21 at World Cups, and has supplied 68 assists since making his international debut in August 2005. But the veteran admits he's 'deeply hurt' at having to retire off the back of disappointment in the United States over the summer. Argentina fell short to Spain in extra time, losing the final 1-0 after Ferran Torres' 106th-minute winner. The reigning world champions failed to manage a single shot on target despite playing 120 minutes.

In a lengthy statement on social media on Monday, Messi wrote: "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.

"It was a decision that hurt, and still hurts deep down, but I understand that the time has come. I swear to you that I always gave it my all: not just in these last few years when we won everything, but before that too; I always fought and left everything on the field for this jersey, to bring you joy and make you feel proud to be Argentine through football.

"Time is running short, chapters come to a close, and this is one that hurts me deeply. I love, have loved, and will always love being part of the National Team. I've given everything I had; I have nothing left to give, and besides, there are some great young players coming up who deserve to be here.

"Thank you for all the affection over these past 20 years. I will miss hearing you from the pitch so much. Now I'll be just one of you, cheering and supporting from the outside (through the good times and the bad, especially the bad).

"Thank you to my family for always being there, for accompanying me on this journey, so beautiful, yet so difficult. Thank you to every coach, team-mate, and official I've shared this path with. I take with me unforgettable memories and moments.

"I leave with the peace of mind and pride of having given you, alongside my team-mates, moments we once only dreamed of. It was an incredible experience to live this with you all. I love you!

"Thank you, God, for making me Argentine. Let's go, Argentina! I wrote these words on July 21st, two days after the final. Today, after what happened with my dad, I am even more convinced than before."

Messi's decision to walk away from international football comes just weeks after his father Jorge's death at the age of 68. Jorge passed away in a hospital in his hometown of Rosario on August 8 following a long illness.

After the tragic news, Messi wrote in a heartbreaking tribute: "I know you were suffering and that it's for the best, but you left too soon. We still had a lot left to enjoy together. You asked me so much to play in the last World Cup, and it was in the days just before it started that you got the worst."

He added: "Every time a match ended I waited for and missed your message. That's when I realised the situation was really bad. Even so, I didn't stop thinking about going as far as possible, to buy you time and so you could see a match.

"We reached the final and you couldn't be there. I wanted to win it to bring it to you and show you a new one. I couldn't; my legs wouldn't give any more. This time I tried to go against my body, but I couldn't. I never managed to feel good.

"When I arrived you thought we had lost the final on penalties. We couldn't talk about any of everything that happened. You couldn't enjoy anything. We weren't champions, but you have no idea how much we enjoyed every single match. Once again, you were right: I had to be there and play it."

The Barcelona icon also cast doubt on his future in football, though he has since returned for Inter Miami and scored four goals in a single game in a 7-2 win against CF Montreal at the weekend.

He said: "I don't know what I'm going to do without you, I don't know how to go on. I only played football and now I have quite a few doubts about whether I'll keep doing it for much longer."