Lionel Messi may finish any debate about whether or not he’s the best participant of all time if he leads Argentina to World Cup glory once more on Sunday on the MetLife Stadium — the place a decade in the past he tearfully declared his worldwide profession over.
Messi had turned 29 in June 2016 and was already seen as the most effective gamers ever. He had gained the Ballon d’Or 5 occasions and led Barcelona to Champions League glory the earlier 12 months, the fourth time he had lifted that trophy.
However his unbelievable success within the membership sport was not matched at worldwide degree, the place he had endured the ache of three defeats in main match finals with Argentina.
The primary got here towards Brazil within the 2007 Copa America. There have been two World Cup quarter-final exits both aspect of that, and elimination from the 2011 Copa America which Argentina hosted, within the final eight to Uruguay.
Messi captained Argentina to the 2014 World Cup ultimate, however that resulted in defeat to Germany on the Maracana, and a loss on penalties to hosts Chile within the following 12 months’s Copa America decider compounded issues.
So he went to the 2016 Copa America Centenario in america on a mission to lastly win a serious title together with his nation, and Argentina cruised to the ultimate with 5 wins out of 5, and 18 objectives scored.
Chile stood earlier than them as soon as once more at a packed MetLife Stadium, however the consequence was equivalent — one other 0-0 draw and one other defeat on penalties, with Messi this time lacking his kick.
Heartbreak
Messi, who had already gained over 100 caps, was heartbroken. Teammate Sergio Aguero stated he had “by no means seen him in such a state” within the dressing room after the sport.
“For me the nationwide staff is over,” Messi advised reporters.
“I’ve executed all I can, I have been in 4 finals and it hurts to not be a champion.”
Within the depths of the South American winter, his phrases plunged Argentina into darkness.
Diego Maradona led the requires Messi to alter his thoughts. “He has to remain as a result of he nonetheless has enjoying days forward of him,” Maradona advised newspaper La Nacion.
A nation held its breath. Six weeks later Messi modified his thoughts.
“Numerous issues went via my thoughts on the night time of the ultimate and I gave severe thought to quitting, however my love for my nation and this shirt is just too nice,” he stated.
The second half of his worldwide profession couldn’t have contrasted extra starkly with what got here earlier than.
The 2018 World Cup resulted in a last-16 exit to eventual champions France, however Lionel Scaloni’s arrival as coach adopted that and led to the revival of Argentina’s fortunes.
A defeat within the semi-finals of the 2019 Copa America to their Brazilian hosts turned out to be the beginning of one thing.
Redemption
Two years they went again to Brazil for one more Copa America. This time, in the course of the Covid pandemic, the Albiceleste beat the hosts 1-0 within the ultimate because of an Angel Di Maria objective to win their first main title in 28 years.
World Cup glory adopted in 2022 in Qatar, with Messi dragging his staff to the ultimate after which to victory on penalties towards France, crowning his superb profession within the course of.
“Clearly I wish to finish my profession with this, I can not ask for extra,” stated Messi.
He has stored going, and Scaloni’s aspect have stored on profitable, delivering one other Copa America in 2024, regardless of Messi coming off injured within the ultimate towards Colombia in Miami.
This World Cup, the sixth he has appeared at, felt like a victory lap at first for Messi, however he clearly nonetheless means enterprise even at 39.
He impressed his staff to their comeback win over England within the semis and goes into Sunday’s ultimate towards Spain with an opportunity of claiming the match’s golden boot.
Extra importantly, he can win one other World Cup, and a fourth title together with his nation — fairly the redemption after the tears of 2016.
And if Argentina wins in New Jersey, there might even be requires him to maintain enjoying into his 40s.
“If we win I hope you’ll keep for one more couple of years,” Argentine newspaper Ole reported Cristian Romero as telling Messi after beating England.
