By the numbers: A look at Lionel Messi's 21 years with Argentina

Lionel Messi has graced a soccer field with Argentina for the last time.

Arguably the greatest player of all time, Messi announced his retirement from the international game on Monday to bring an end to 21 years of service for his country.

Here's a by-the-numbers look at his time at the Albiceleste:

Messi won the World Cup once, in Qatar in 2022. He also reached the final two other times — in 2014 and 2026 when losing to Germany and Spain, respectively.

The number of World Cups in which Messi played (2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026), which is tied for the most with long-time rival Cristiano Ronaldo.

Messi scored 21 goals across those six World Cups. That is second only to France's Kylian Mbappé, who has 22 and has played in just three tournaments.

Messi was aged 39 when he announced his international retirement — 21 years after making his debut for Argentina in a friendly against Hungary in August 2005. He barely lasted a minute of that game before getting sent off for elbowing an opponent.

Messi scored 125 international goals and that's more than double the amount netted by any other Argentina player. The previous record was held by Gabriel Batistuta, who scored 54 in 78 appearances from 1991-2002. It is, though, second to Cristiano Ronaldo (146 goals) in the all-time scoring list in men's international soccer.

The total number of international appearances by Messi, which also is a national record but not an all-time record in men's football. Once again, he's No. 2 in the list behind Cristiano Ronaldo, who has played 233 games for Portugal.

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Argentina's Nicolas Otamendi, 19, celebrates with teammate Argentina's Lionel Messi after scoring his side's opening goal, during Messi's final match for the national team, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Lionel Messi reacts after his final match for the national team, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP/Photo/Gustavo Garello)

Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring his third goal from the penalty spot during his final match for the national team, a soccer friendly against Benin, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Tuesday, Oct.6, 2026. (AP/Photo/Gustavo Garello)

FILE - Argentina's Lionel Messi walks along the pitch at the end of the group D match against Croatia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, June 21, 2018. Croatia defeated Argentina 3-0. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan, File)

FILE - Argentina's Lionel Messi cries at the end of the World Cup final soccer match with Spain in East Rutherford, N.J., near New York, July 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, File)

FILE - Argentina's Lionel Messi lifts the trophy after winning the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France in Lusail, Qatar, Dec. 18, 2022. Argentina won 4-2 in a penalty shootout after the match ended tied 3-3. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

FILE - Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the trophy after winning the World Cup final soccer match between Argentina and France in Lusail, Qatar, Dec. 18, 2022. Argentina won 4-2 in a penalty shootout after the match ended tied 3-3. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

FILE - Argentina's Lionel Messi celebrates at the end of the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match against the Netherlands in Lusail, Qatar, Dec. 10, 2022. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan, File)

BANGKOK (AP) — A former Buddhist monk in Thailand was convicted Wednesday of misusing donations to a highly praised hospice he established for people with HIV/AIDS and given the maximum term of 50 years in prison.

Alongkot Poonmook, formerly known as Phra Ratcha Wisutthiprachanat, was forced to leave the monkhood after he was arrested last year along with an associate, Seksan Sapsubbsakul, who served as a fundraiser for the project.

The Central Criminal Court for Corruption and Misconduct Cases found both men guilty on multiple counts of embezzlement and money laundering.

Some Buddhist temples in Thailand are extremely wealthy because worshippers donate large amounts as a way of making religious merit, and the country has seen cases of senior monks being accused of misappropriating temple funds. The case has drawn widespread attention since questions about the handling of funds for the hospice emerged online and prompted an investigation.

The court sentenced Alongkot to a cumulative 742 years in prison, while Seksan received more than 386 years, but those sentences were automatically reduced to the legal maximum of 50 years.

The men were also ordered to return more than 300 million baht (about $9 million) to the hospice at Wat Phra Bat Namphu temple in the central province of Lopburi, where Alongkot had served as abbot. The temple has long been a revered institution in Thailand, where the majority of the population are Buddhist, but its image has been dented by the financial scandal.

Alongkot's hospice was considered a pioneering humanitarian project when it was established in 1992, but it became less relevant after the development and distribution of antiretroviral drugs to treat HIV.

Alongkot later expanded the hospice to offer treatment to people suffering from other serious ailments. The temple also runs various charities providing funding for the education of underprivileged children.

FILE -In this photo released by the Central Investigation Bureau, Alongkot Poonmook, formerly known as Phra Ratcha Wisutthiprachanat, second right in white, talks to police personnel at the Central Investigation Bureau in Bangkok, Thailand, Aug. 26, 2025. (Central Investigation Bureau via AP, File)