Lionel Messi retires: How Argentina legend’s decade of dominance almost never happened

Edgardo Bauza became Argentina coach in August 2016, replacing Gerardo Martino after the Copa America failure. He lasted just eight months – but maybe his first few days were his most important.

The first thing he did was travel to Barcelona to persuade Messi to change his mind. The huge clamour for Messi to return proved irresistible.

“I love this country and this shirt too much,” Messi said as he returned to the international fold.

“I’m grateful to all the people who wanted me to continue playing with Argentina. Hopefully we can give them something to cheer about soon.”

Still, success didn’t come instantly. In 2018, Argentina fell to France in the last 16 of the World Cup and many wrote off Messi’s chances of ever lifting the trophy.

Quite incredibly, Messi did not win a senior international tournament until the age of 34 – and then he went on to win four in barely three years, including the 2022 Finalissima.

Questions about his international future were raised after each of those triumphs, but he played on to his sixth World Cup in 2026 where he scored eight goals and registered four assists en route to Argentina’s defeat by Spain in the final.

He was strolling through games, lacking the speed of years gone by, but somehow proving every bit as effective.

The final took place in the same stadium where Messi ‘retired’ a decade earlier.

“When Messi retired [10 years ago] it reminded us all how much we loved him,” said Argentina fan Benjamin who was in the Metlife for the 2016 showpiece final.

“When I heard him retire, I cried, the country cried. He did get criticism but only because everyone cared so much. Without Lionel Messi, Argentina would still be waiting for their next World Cup since 1986.”

Messi’s footballing future became a matter of fresh doubt after the death of his father Jorge just three weeks after this year’s World Cup final.

This decision seems final and, at 39, another return to international football looks unlikely.

But South American football writer Tim Vickery said an official farewell in Argentina could be on the cards.

“Remember that, as a result of their behaviour at the World Cup, the next game Argentina play on home soil will only be in front of a crowd at 50% capacity,” Vickery told BBC Radio 5 Live.

“But once those punishments are out of the way, I’m sure it will be in the mind of the Argentina FA: ‘Why don’t we hold a game back in Buenos Aires? River Plate, they have the biggest capacity in South America. Why don’t we do an official farewell there? What do you think about it, Lionel? One last time?’.”