A career defined by highs and lows
Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football on Monday, six weeks on from Argentina's defeat in the World Cup final and after over 200 appearances for his country. The announcement brings to a close a career that began inauspiciously in 2005 and reached its crowning glory at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, as reported by the Buenos Aires Times and The New Indian Express.
Messi's first cap came as an 18-year-old in a friendly against Hungary in Budapest. His debut was unforgettable for the wrong reasons: ninety seconds after coming on as a substitute, he was sent off for what the referee saw as an elbow, according to two of the three accounts. The Indian Express adds that he came on in the 63rd minute and was dismissed two minutes later.
The following June, Messi made his first World Cup appearance in Argentina's 6-0 win over Serbia and Montenegro in the 2006 tournament in Germany, scoring his team's final goal in Gelsenkirchen. That same tournament saw him become the youngest player to play in a World Cup for Argentina, a record noted by The Indian Express.
Early promise and early heartbreak
Messi's first international goal came on March 1, 2006, in a friendly against Croatia, scoring once in Argentina's 3-2 win, as reported by The Indian Express. After leading Argentina's U20 team to victories in the South American Youth Championship and the FIFA World Youth Championship in 2005, he was called up by senior manager Jose Pekerman for the Hungary friendly, the same source explains.
Messi added an Olympic gold medal to his collection at the 2008 Beijing Games, providing the assist for Angel Di Maria's 58th-minute goal as Argentina beat Nigeria 1-0 in the final, according to The Indian Express.
In the 2010 World Cup, Messi wore the captain's armband for Argentina's group match against Greece, becoming the country's youngest World Cup captain, after coach Diego Maradona rested regular captain Javier Mascherano, as detailed by The Indian Express. He was later appointed full-time captain by Alejandro Sabella, playing his first match in that role on September 2, 2011.
Despite individual success, major honours with Argentina proved elusive. The Buenos Aires Times and The New Indian Express both recall quarter-final exits to Germany at the 2006 and 2010 World Cups, a Copa América final defeat to Brazil in 2007, and a poor showing at the 2011 Copa América on home soil.
The lowest ebb
The 2014 World Cup in Brazil offered a chance at redemption. Messi, then 26 and already established as one of the greats through his Barcelona achievements, captained Alejandro Sabella's team and made a flying start by scoring in every group game. However, the goals dried up in the knockout stages, and Argentina fell short against Germany in the final at the Maracana, as reported by both the Buenos Aires Times and The New Indian Express.
The 2014 heartache was followed by further misery. Messi missed his penalty in the Copa América Centenario final defeat to Chile in 2016, a loss that came after Argentina had also lost the 2015 Copa América final to the same opponents on penalties, according to the Buenos Aires Times. It proved to be his lowest ebb.
"For me the national team is over," Messi declared after the 2016 final, as quoted by both the Buenos Aires Times and The New Indian Express. "I've done all I can, I've been in four finals and it hurts not to be a champion." He reversed his retirement decision about a month later, with The Indian Express dating his return to August 12.
Turnaround and crowning glory
The appointment of Lionel Scaloni as coach in 2018 proved a game-changer, according to both the Buenos Aires Times and The New Indian Express. Under Scaloni, Argentina regained their winning habit, culminating in a 1-0 victory over Brazil in the 2021 Copa América final at the Maracana, with Angel Di Maria scoring the only goal. That triumph ended a 28-year wait for a major title, as noted by The New Indian Express.
Messi then delivered the ultimate prize at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, scoring seven goals and setting up three more in seven matches as Argentina beat France in a penalty shoot-out in the final, as reported by The New Indian Express. He also skippered Argentina to success at the 2024 Copa América, the same source adds.
Across his international career, Messi amassed 207 caps and 125 goals, according to The New Indian Express, and he played more World Cup matches than anyone else, with 34 appearances and 21 goals, as noted by the Buenos Aires Times. He became only the second player to appear in three different World Cup finals, though he lost in extra time to Spain in one of them, the same outlet reports.
Messi's retirement brings an end to a journey that saw him go from a raw teenager sent off on his debut to a World Cup winner, leaving behind a legacy defined by both heartache and triumph.