Lionel Messi concluded his illustrious international career by stating he had given everything to the sport and had nothing left to offer. The legendary forward leaves the national team as its record goalscorer and most-capped player, having captained his country to victory at the 2022 World Cup and consecutive Copa America tournaments in 2021 and 2024. His final major tournament appearance at the 2026 World Cup saw him contribute eight goals and four assists.

Yet the defining era of international success almost never materialized. Ten years prior, following a painful penalty shootout defeat to Chile in the 2016 Copa America final at MetLife Stadium, a tearful Messi announced his retirement from international play. Just days after turning 29, and having experienced devastating losses in the 2014 World Cup final alongside earlier Copa America title matches in 2007 and 2015, the forward concluded that his journey with the national team had reached its end.

At the time, public pressure and comparisons to fellow Argentine icon Diego Maradona weighed heavily upon him. Despite achieving extraordinary success at club level with Barcelona, critics frequently questioned his leadership abilities and dedication to the national squad when major international trophies eluded him. Biographer Guillem Balague noted that heavy losses deeply affected the player, who faced harsh insults from detractors during periods of international disappointment.

The retirement announcement in June 2016 lasted roughly six weeks before a change of heart brought him back to the squad, driven by his affection for the country. That brief period of uncertainty preceded a remarkable decade that reshaped his international legacy. Following his reversal, he accumulated nearly a hundred additional appearances, scored dozens of more goals, and finally captured the major titles that had previously remained out of reach.

As his international career draws to a close, the early criticisms regarding his leadership and national commitment appear distant. The national squad was ultimately structured entirely around his talents, transforming public sentiment from skepticism into widespread adoration. What began as a fractured relationship between a pressured superstar and a demanding football nation instead evolved into one of the most remarkable stories in the history of the sport.

Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC Sport. Read the original report at BBC Sport.