Messi's amazing journey for Argentina almost never happened after heartbreak

By Michael Doyle

Topic:Soccer

Lionel Messi became as famous as Diego Maradona, but his path to fame began with a sad loss. (Getty Images: Anychance/Simon Bruty)

Messi's retirement from Argentina ends one of the most famous international football careers.

Messi's records and achievements are legendary, and only the very best reach his level in world sport.

Messi missed a perfect ending to his Argentina career in July, losing a thrilling World Cup final to Spain that went to extra time.

The loss in New Jersey stopped a fairy‑tale ending, but it did not erase the legend Messi built or the legacy he left his people.

The love of his fans, two Copa America wins and the 2022 World Cup victory that lifted Argentina to the top of world football and made Messi as legendary as Diego Maradona almost never happened.

Legend at Barca, struggles with Argentina

Messi has been at the top of world football for twenty years, winning the Ballon d'Or as the best player eight times.

From 2004 to 2021 he won ten La Liga titles, seven Spanish Cups, seven Spanish Super Cups, four Champions Leagues, three UEFA Super Cups and three FIFA Club World Cups with Barcelona.

The news came weeks after his father Jorge died.

In 2012 he scored a record 91 goals in all competitions, including 50 goals in the 2011‑12 La Liga season.

Trophies, awards and love grew for the Barcelona star, but success with Argentina was still missing.

Coming through the youth system, Messi led Argentina to a Youth World Championship in 2005 and an Olympic medal at the 2008 Beijing Games.

But big tournament trophies were harder to win.

When Messi first played for Argentina’s senior team in 2005 against Hungary, the South American giants had not won a trophy since the 1993 Copa America.

After the World Cup final loss, Argentina may wonder what the future looks like after Messi.

Messi’s senior debut was not great; he was sent off after less than a minute for elbowing an opponent.

But Messi turned that bad start into a star career and gave his nation hope that Argentina could rise again.

What followed was a series of painful disappointments.

Argentina reached the Copa America final in 2007 but lost 3‑0 to rivals Brazil.

At the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, Messi did not score and Argentina left at the quarter‑final stage.

Argentina was knocked out again at the quarter‑finals of the 2011 Copa America by eventual winners Uruguay.

These losses hurt Argentina and Messi, and the pain grew, leading the great player to say he did not want to continue.

Three years, three finals, three painful defeats

Going into the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, it had been 21 years since Argentina’s last big trophy.

But the blue and white team went to the land of their biggest rival to try to win football’s biggest prize.

Argentina won all three group games – over Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iran and Nigeria – topped the group, beat Switzerland 1‑0 in extra time and beat Belgium 1‑0 to reach the quarter‑finals.

A goalless semi‑final against the Netherlands went to penalties, where Argentina won 4‑2, with Messi scoring his spot‑kick.

But the joy stopped there.

In a major final for the first time in seven years, Argentina faced Germany, who had just beaten Brazil 7‑1 in the semi‑final.

Like all Argentina games before, the match was tight and tense. It went to extra time, but a goal by Germany’s Mario Götze gave Germany the win.

A photo of Messi looking at the World Cup trophy after the loss, taken by Bao Tailiang for Chengdu Economic Daily in China, became a defining image of Messi for years.

Lionel Messi walking past the FIFA World Cup trophy after defeat in the 2014 final. (Supplied: Bao Tailiang for Chengdu Economic Daily via X)

The heartbreak kept coming for Messi and Argentina.

The Copa America was held in 2015 and 2016, with Argentina reaching the final both times and losing to Chile each time.

Both finals ended scoreless and went to penalties. Messi scored his penalty, the only Argentine to do so, in the 2015 loss, but missed his spot‑kick in 2016.

The pain of the 2016 final was too much for Messi, who said he was retiring from Argentina.

"For me, the national team is over," he said after the 2016 loss to Chile. "I’ve done all I can. It hurts not to be a champion."

"It’s been four finals, I tried.

"It was the thing I wanted most, but I couldn’t get it, so I think it’s over."

"I think this is best for everyone. First of all for me, then for everyone.

"I think many people want this, and we are not satisfied, because we reached a final and did not win."

World football was that close to never seeing Messi reach the heights he would achieve.

Six‑week retirement, ten years of legacy building

When Messi announced on Sunday, June 26, 2016, that he would stop playing for Argentina, he ended a truly magnificent international career.

He had played 113 games, scored 55 goals and led his country to four major finals.

But not having a trophy was not enough – not for someone as great as Messi.

On July 10 the world watched Cristiano Ronaldo lift a major international trophy as Portugal won Euro 2016.

On August 12, Messi announced he was back.

What followed his six‑week retirement is one of the greatest international careers ever.

Messi added another 94 caps, scored another 70 goals, and more importantly ended Argentina’s trophy drought.

And Messi didn’t just win one major trophy for Argentina; he won four.

The 2018 World Cup in Russia ended with Argentina out in the quarter‑finals, but it set the stage for future success.

Argentina finally broke the drought by winning the Copa America in 2021, beating Brazil in Brazil.

Lionel Messi was lifted into the air in celebration after Argentina ended a 28‑year trophy drought. (Getty Images: MB Media)

With COVID‑19 keeping many fans away from Rio’s Maracanã, Argentina won 1‑0 to claim the nation’s first major trophy in 28 years.

Messi was hoisted by teammates in images that spread worldwide.

The drought ended, and the rain stayed. Argentina won a second trophy in 2022 by beating Italy in the relaunched Finalissima, but bigger prizes were coming.

By now Messi had surpassed everything Maradona achieved, except one thing.

Maradona almost single‑handedly won the 1986 World Cup for Argentina, giving him a near‑god status.

Now it was Messi’s turn to do the same.

He did it in Qatar at the 2022 World Cup, leading Argentina back to the top of world football.

The final against France, the defending champions, was anything but ordinary. Fans used to Argentina winning 1‑0 were shocked as the match became one of the greatest finals ever.

Messi scored two goals, including one in extra time, while Ángel Di María also scored. But France answered with Kylian Mbappé’s hat‑trick, including a 118th‑minute penalty that sent the game to penalties.

In the shoot‑out, Messi scored, Mbappé scored.

Argentina was perfect. France was not.

When Gonzalo Montiel’s kick went in, Argentina were world champions and Messi reached a god‑like status once held only by Maradona.

The picture of Messi kissing the World Cup became the defining image of his great career.

Lionel Messi finally held the FIFA World Cup trophy, which had long escaped him. (Getty Images: China News Service/VCG/Cui Nan)

One more trophy will follow for Argentina, another Copa America in 2024, making three major trophies in four years.

That trophy was the icing on the cake for Messi’s legacy, now in uncharted territory.

Messi’s international career by numbers

Lionel Messi led Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup title. He also led his country to two more finals, 2014 and 2026, both lost 1‑0 in extra time.

Lionel Messi led Argentina to Copa America titles in 2021 and 2024. Before that, the last Argentine champion was in 1993.

Lionel Messi has played in a record six FIFA World Cups – 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026. Only Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo has also done this.

Lionel Messi scored 21 goals at World Cup finals. He is second behind France’s Kylian Mbappé, who has 22 from three tournaments.

Lionel Messi holds the record for most World Cup final matches played. He appeared 34 times for Argentina. Portugal’s Ronaldo is second with 27.

125

Lionel Messi holds Argentina’s goal‑scoring record with 125 goals, more than double the previous record holder Gabriel Batistuta’s 54.

207

Lionel Messi made 207 appearances for Argentina, a national record. He debuted in 2005 against Hungary and played his last match against Spain in the 2026 World Cup final. Portugal’s Ronaldo has 233 caps.

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