EAST RUTHERFORD:
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 among the best 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 recreation was not matched at worldwide stage, 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 facet 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 last, however that led to 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 the US 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 final result was an identical — 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 mentioned he had “by no means seen him in such a state” within the dressing room after the sport.
“For me the nationwide group is over,” Messi advised reporters.
“I’ve finished 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 vary 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.
“A whole lot of issues went by means of my thoughts on the evening of the ultimate and I gave severe thought to quitting, however my love for my nation and this shirt is simply too nice,” he mentioned.
The second half of his worldwide profession couldn’t have contrasted extra starkly with what got here earlier than.
The 2018 World Cup led to 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 an additional Copa America. This time, in the midst of the Covid pandemic, the Albiceleste beat the hosts 1-0 within the last due to 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 group to the ultimate after which to victory on penalties towards France, crowning his wonderful profession within the course of.
“Clearly I want to finish my profession with this, I can’t ask for extra,” mentioned Messi.
He has stored going, and Scaloni’s facet have stored on profitable, delivering one other Copa America in 2024, regardless of Messi coming off injured within the last 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 group to their comeback win over England within the semis and goes into Sunday’s last 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 win in New Jersey, there could even be requires him to maintain enjoying into his 40s.
“If we win I hope you’ll keep for an additional couple of years,” Argentine newspaper Ole reported Cristian Romero as telling Messi after beating England.
