Messi's legendary run for Argentina almost never happened after heartbreak
Lionel Messi ends his international football career as a living legend with a God-like status in his country, but the dizzying heights the great man reached almost never happened if he had stuck to his original retirement.
Lionel Messi's illustrious international career with Argentina came to a close after a heartbreaking retirement, as the team was denied a perfect finish to his illustrious journey. Despite Messi's legendary status and numerous accolades, including a record 91-goal calendar year and a staggering eight Ballon d'Or awards, his tenure with Argentina was riddled with bitter disappointments.
Argentina failed to win a trophy in major tournaments, including the Copa America, the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups, and the 2015 and 2016 Copa Americas. Messi's retirement from Argentina in 2016 came after a final loss to Chile, which he had missed the decisive penalty in. However, Messi's story did not end there. Within six weeks, he returned to the international stage, leading Argentina to victory in four major tournaments, including the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Messi's relentless pursuit of success for his country has cemented his legacy as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
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