He overcame all the doubts that detractors poured on him, from youth.
Messi’s has been a story of a man whose God-given talent has not only created many detractors for him, persons and groups whom him and favourable circumstances shamed over the decades.
When he was a child, they said his poor family could not afford the expensive daily injections to treat his rare Growth Hormone Deficiency (GHD) which had stunted his physical progress. He overcame it as Barcelona in 2000 signed him as a 13-year-old academy player, opting to underwrite the medical expenses.
Later, they said, having broken into Barcelona’s senior team later, he would not be given his favourite tactical position on the pitch, given the world-famous player there. The club sold Zlatan Ibrahimovic to accommodate him on the position.
They said he never scored against Chelsea. On 10 February, 2018, at Stamford Bridge, he opened his account against Chelsea in a Champions League knockout match with him scoring two more goals in the return leg at Camp Nou as he helped Barcelona send Chelsea packing from the competition 4-1 aggregate.
They said he would not win a Copa America (equivalent of AfCON or Euros) with Argentina. On 10 July, 2021, he won it, retaining it on 14 July, 2024.
They said he can’t win a World Cup, as his age had advanced. At 35 years, 177 days old, he led Argentina to win the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. In 2026, at 39, again he led Argentina, but narrowly lost 0-1 in the World Cup final to Spain.
Today, Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football, seven weeks after Argentina were beaten by Spain in the World Cup final in the US.
Messi posted a picture on Instagram of notes that he wrote on 21 July, two days after the World Cup final, confirming he was ending his Argentina career and said the death of his father, Jorge, in early August made him feel “more convinced than before.”
The icon, regarded by some as the greatest footballer of all time (GOAT), was often visibly emotional during the tournament and revealed during the knockout stages that Jorge was undergoing medical treatment.
Messi’s statement, addressed to Argentina fans, read: “After the time that has passed since the final, thinking a lot, I want to let everyone know that I am retiring from the national team. It is a decision that hurts my soul but I know it is time. I can say for sure that I always gave everything, not only in the last few years when we won everything [but] before as well, and I always fought and gave everything for the shirt, to give you joy and make you proud of being Argentinian through football.
“There’s not long left and chapters are coming to an end – and this is one that hurts me a lot. I love, have loved and I will always love being part of the national team. I have emptied myself: now I have nothing more to give and, besides, there are great young players coming through who deserve to be [selected].”
Messi thanked his family for accompanying him on a “beautiful but difficult journey.”
He previously announced his retirement from international football in 2016 after Argentina lost on penalties to Chile in the 2016 Copa América final – at the time his fourth defeat in a major final out of four.
The then Barcelona forward was often criticised for not producing his club form at international level and comparisons were constantly made with the World Cup-winning Diego Maradona.
However, Messi was persuaded to continue and finally lifted silverware with his country at the 2021 Copa América in Brazil.
“I take with me unforgettable memories and moments,” his statement said. After victory over Brazil at the Maracanã in the 2021 Copa América final, Messi was central to Argentina’s first World Cup triumph since 1986 and scored in every knockout round in Qatar, including twice in the final against France – two years after the death of Maradona.
Argentina defended their Copa América title in 2024 amid speculation that Messi, by then playing for Inter Miami, would call it a day.
He turned 39 during the World Cup this summer, briefly becoming the tournament’s all-time record scorer before being overtaken by Kylian Mbappé.
His statement finished by returning to address Argentina fans: “I go with the satisfaction and the pride of having, along with my teammates, giving you moments we dreamed about. I love you! I thank God for making me Argentinian.”
Messi retires as Argentina’s record appearance-maker – he won the first of his 207 caps in a friendly against Hungary in August 2005 and was sent off almost immediately for catching Vilmos Vanczak with an elbow.
He is also Argentina’s record scorer with 125 goals. Before playing for the senior team, he won the Under-20 World Cup and also won Olympic gold in 2008.
Since the end of his sixth World Cup, Messi has featured seven times for Inter Miami and scored four goals in Saturday’s 7-1 rout of Montreal in Major League Soccer. Messi signed a contract extension last year to 2028.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Messi in action for Argentina.
