From retirement to records – another immortal Messi momentFigure caption, All of Messi’s record-breaking 18 World Cup goalsByMichael EmonsBBC Sport journalistPublished11 minutes agoIn 2016, Lionel Messi retired from international football.In the aftermath of a defeat by Chile in the Copa America final, in which Messi missed a penalty in the shootout as Argentina lost a fourth major final in nine years, he could not take any more pain.”For me, the national team is over,” he reported at the time. “I’ve done all I can. It hurts not to be a champion.”
It is hard to imagine that 10 years later, two days before his 39th birthday, that not only would he still be playing for reigning World champions Argentina, but also becoming the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.
His decision to reverse that international retirement has led to a glorious era of success for him and his nation.
They have won the past two Copa America tournaments and, in 2022, captain Messi guided them to the World Cup, scoring seven goals – including two in the final – as they won the tournament for the third time, but the first since 1986.
On Monday, 40 years to the day since Diego Maradona scored twice in a 2-1 quarter-final win over England, Messi was again rewriting football’s record books with both goals in a 2-0 victory against Austria.
It was “another immortal Messi moment” according to BBC commentator Steve Bower.
“I enjoy playing and having a good time on the pitch,” reported Messi. “We enjoy seeing the people like this too, being able to give them this kind of joy.”
