How Messi's decade of dominance almost never happened

"I've given it my all, I have nothing left to give." Lionel Messi retired from international football on Monday as Argentina's all-time leading scorer and most-capped player. He captained them to World Cup glory at Qatar 2022 and to Copa America triumphs in 2021 and 2024. But the world was almost denied his most successful period in the famous blue and white shirt. On Sunday, 26 June 2016, at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Messi broke the hearts of a nation. Just two days after his 29th birthday and soon after missing a penalty in Argentina's Copa America final loss to Chile in a shootout, Messi decided he had seen enough. After 113 appearances, he was adamant. In his mind, he would never pull on an Argentina shirt again. "For me, the national team is over. I've done all I can. It hurts not to be a champion," he said. The pain was understandable. Argentina had lost in the 2014 World Cup final, plus Copa America finals in 2007, 2015 and now 2016. The player many classed as the world's greatest had failed when it mattered most for him. "It was the thing I wanted the most, but I couldn't get it, so I think it's over," Messi said, fighting back tears after another trophy chance slipped away. "I think this is best for everyone." Fortunately for Argentina, Messi would have second thoughts. Over the subsequent 10 years, he completed one of football's greatest ever stories. But it was a decade of dominance that almost never happened. Since that retirement U-turn, Messi has played a further 94 times and scored another 70 goals for Argentina. He has lifted four major trophies. The six-week period between his June 2016 retirement declaration and the 12 August announcement he would play on for the "love of the country" could be considered the most significant in Argentine football history - even in world football. 'He lacks the character to be a leader' As Messi departs the international stage, words of criticism 10 years ago from the country's other legendary number 10 seem almost laughable. "He's a really good person, but he has no personality," Diego Maradona said just weeks before Messi's first retirement. "He lacks the character to be a leader." Back then it was the comparison with Maradona that was held against him. Yet Messi had already won eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues with Barcelona and was a five-time Ballon d'Or winner, and not yet 30. Maradona's club career hadn't come close, but Messi's only major international honour had been Olympic gold at the 2008 Games. Maradona had almost single-handedly won the 1986 World Cup for Argentina. It's hard to imagine it now, with Messi shirts dominating the last two World Cups, the Argentina team being built completely around him and the nation's fans worshipping him to an almost religious extent – but, back then, there was a lot of criticism. "He's not as good as Diego", "he goes missing on the big occasion", "he is part of the country's failure". All accusations that were thrown in his direction. This wasn't the first time Messi had considered walking away either. Spanish football expert – and Messi biographer – Guillem Balague said: "Leo goes really down when he loses. He felt the pressure of being the captain of Argentina and the Maradona thing. "Pecho Frio, people in Argentina called him, which means cold chest. It was an insult to say he had milk in his veins. So when he failed in 2016 at the Copa America, that was the third time – the first time in public – he had decided to leave the national side. "The two previous ones was a matter of letting him lick his wounds, but this one he came out and said I've had enough. He sometimes cannot help himself as he says what he thinks." The Maradona versus Messi debate is now surely over. Messi is Argentina's greatest, by most judgements. There are many who will say he is challenging Pele for the title of football's greatest ever. A campaign, a statue and many apologies Even people who criticised Messi eventually said sorry. From the moment Messi quit his country, shockwaves reverberated around Argentina. Yes, he had lost in four successive finals. But he was also the country's record goalscorer and the world's best player. The 'Get Messi back' campaign started immediately as team-mates called for him to change his mind just minutes after his announcement. "I can't imagine a national team without Messi," said goalkeeper Sergio Romero. The social hashtag #NoTeVayasMessi (Don't go Messi) w