Messi's final Argentina cap caps a two-decade saga of reluctant love
Lionel Messi will play his last match for Argentina on Tuesday, ending a 20-year journey that began with the federation barely knowing his name.
When Lionel Messi steps onto the field for his final appearance with Argentina, it will conclude a saga that began with the Argentine Football Association barely aware of his existence. Early attempts to recruit him were hampered by misidentified names, mistaken nationality assumptions, and a general reluctance to call up a player based abroad. After debuting in under-20 friendlies in 2004, Messi faced criticism for not replicating his club form and was labeled cold-hearted by some fans.
A turning point arrived in a 2011 World Cup qualifier versus Colombia, where his gritty performance altered public opinion. Subsequent retirement after the 2016 Copa América loss sparked a national plea for his return, and under Lionel Scaloni he captained Argentina to two Copa América crowns and the 2022 World Cup, drawing inevitable comparisons with Diego Maradona. Sergio Levinsky describes the relationship as a love built over time, likening it to discovering an 18-year-old son late in life.
Why it matters
Messi's retirement ends an era that shaped Argentina's football identity and national pride.
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