After more than two decades representing Argentina on the global stage, football icon Lionel Messi has declared his retirement from international competition. This decision follows closely on the heels of Argentina's recent World Cup final defeat. His career with the national squad, marked by over 200 appearances, has been a testament to enduring passion and extraordinary talent. This retrospective delves into the pivotal events that shaped Messi's remarkable journey with his national team, highlighting the highs and lows of his illustrious tenure.
Messi's introduction to international football in 2005 as an 18-year-old was notably dramatic. During a friendly match against Hungary in Budapest, a mere ninety seconds after entering as a substitute, he received a red card for what the referee deemed an elbow, an unforgettable start for all the wrong reasons. The following year, at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, he made his debut in the tournament during Argentina's commanding 6-0 victory over Serbia and Montenegro, scoring the final goal. This marked the beginning of his legendary association with the World Cup.
By 2014, Messi, then 26, had already cemented his status as one of football's greats through his achievements with Barcelona. Despite his club success, his international career had been fraught with disappointments, including quarter-final exits at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, a Copa America final loss to Brazil in 2007, and a dismal performance at the 2011 Copa America on home soil. As captain of Alejandro Sabella's team, Messi led Argentina to their first World Cup final since the Maradona era, scoring in every group stage match. However, the Albiceleste ultimately fell to Germany at the Maracana, continuing their quest for international glory.
The anguish of the 2014 World Cup final was compounded by another defeat in the 2015 Copa America final, where Argentina lost to Chile in a penalty shootout. Driven by a desire to finally secure a major international title, Messi participated in the 2016 Copa America Centenario in the United States, guiding Argentina to the final once more. Yet, history repeated itself at the MetLife Stadium, with another penalty shootout loss to Chile, and Messi notably missed his own spot-kick. Overwhelmed by emotion after accumulating more than 100 caps, Messi famously announced, "For me, the national team is over. I've done all I can, I've been in four finals and it hurts not to be a champion." However, six weeks later, he reversed his decision and returned to the international fold.
The latter part of Messi's international career presented a stark contrast, largely transformed by Lionel Scaloni's appointment as coach in 2018. In 2021, amidst the global pandemic, Messi led Argentina to victory in the Copa America, defeating Brazil 1-0 in the final. This triumph, secured by an Angel Di Maria goal, marked Argentina's first major title in 28 years.
The pinnacle of his international career arrived at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. At 35 and playing for PSG, Messi delivered an extraordinary performance, single-handedly propelling Argentina to victory. He netted seven goals and provided three assists across seven matches, including a crucial brace in the epic final against France. His successful penalty in the subsequent shootout secured Argentina's third World Cup trophy. "Obviously I wanted to finish my career with this. I can't ask for any more," Messi stated after this historic win. While he had initially expressed a desire to continue playing as a world champion, he extended his international tenure until this year's tournament.
Messi's journey with the national team culminated in another final defeat, this time at the 2024 Copa America. Despite turning 39, he defied expectations by scoring eight goals in the first five games, inspiring his team to another final appearance. Having played a record 34 World Cup matches and scored 21 goals overall, Messi became only the second player to participate in three different World Cup finals. However, he and Argentina delivered a disappointing performance, losing to Spain in extra time. This marked an anti-climactic end to an international career spanning 207 matches and yielding 125 goals.
