Messi farewell closes a long, hard-won love story with Argentina

Lionel Messi's final appearance for Argentina on Tuesday will mark the end of a journey that began with the country's football authorities not even knowing his name. The farewell against Benin at Buenos Aires' Monumental stadium signifies the conclusion of an international career spanning over two decades, a relationship of enduring significance in sporting history.

The story of Messi's connection with Argentina is one of persistence and gradual acceptance. When he moved to Barcelona as a teenager, Spain attempted to convince him to represent them, but Argentina remained largely oblivious to his existence. Sergio Levinsky, an Argentine journalist and author of "Messi and Everything Else," recounted how Spain defeated Argentina 3-2 in the 2003 Under-17 World Cup semi-finals, with young Cesc Fabregas scoring twice and being Messi's teammate at Barcelona's La Masia academy.

According to Levinsky, Fabregas told Argentine delegates, "You lost to us because we've got your best player at Barcelona and he's a genius."

Finding Messi in Argentina proved challenging. The Argentine Football Association (AFA) employee Omar Souto tracked down the Messi family in Spain through a Rosario telephone directory, but mistakenly asked for "Leonardo" instead of "Lionel." The paperwork confusion even included a fax sent to Barcelona, which mistakenly addressed a player named "Mecci" due to officials believing he might be Italian.

Despite these obstacles, Messi made his international debut with Argentina in two under-20 friendlies in 2004. However, skepticism persisted, and he was often criticized for failing to reproduce his club form and labeled "pecho frio," lacking heart or fire, by some fans. It was Argentina's World Cup qualifier against Colombia in 2011 that began to change perceptions, with Messi helping Argentina rally from a goal down to secure a win, marking the first time fans saw him differently.

The bond between Messi and Argentina strengthened further when he briefly retired following Argentina's penalty shootout defeat by Chile in the 2016 Copa America final. Rather than blaming him, Argentines publicly pleaded for him to return, recognizing that he was not responsible for the team's defeats. Messi's evolution into a more outspoken captain, leading Argentina to two Copa America titles and the 2022 World Cup under Lionel Scaloni, further solidified his status as the undisputed leader of a new generation.

Levinsky emphasized that while Argentina's affection for Messi may not have been as immediate as it was for Diego Maradona, it developed over time, stemming from his upbringing and career that unfolded largely abroad. He described it as a "love under construction," a relationship that grew stronger as Messi became increasingly connected with his supporters.