Lionel Messi’s international retirement came as a rude shock to many followers of the game following Sunday’s defeat to Chile in the final of the Copa America in the United States.
It will be the fourth time the 29-year-old will be getting to a major final and ending on the losing side.
He was part of the Argentina squad who lost the Copa America final to Brazil in 2007 and he led the Albiceleste to the final of the 2014 Fifa World Cup only to lose to Germany in the final.
Argentina was beaten by Chile in last year’s addition which made the defeat on Sunday by the same side all too much to take .
He elected to retire from the national team.
“For me, the national team is over,I’ve done all I can. It hurts not to be a champion,”he said after the defeat.
“It’s very hard, but the decision is taken. Now I will not try more and there will be no going back.”
Messi is a rare breed. His type doesn’t come too often and it might take some years before we see anyone with so much talent gracing the ‘international’ stage again.
He never got it easy,in fact, he was told he would never make the grade because of some hormonal defects which meant he didn’t grow as fast as his peers.
Barcelona decided to take a gamble and brought the then 13-year-old to Barcelona. Messi underwent hormone treatments and honed his skills at the famous Barcelona Academy, the ‘La Masia.
The little Argentine smashed all available scoring records at the academy and it wasn’t soon before he made his Barcelona début as a 16-year-old in 2005.
Messi has won eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues with Spanish side Barcelona aside other trophies.
Despite the loss in four major finals, Messi has won a couple of trophies with the Argentine age group sides.
Nigerians won’t forget that part in a hurry. Nigeria was on the cusp of her first U20 World title in 2005 and brimming with confidence leading to the final.
With a cast that had a certain John Mikel Obi, Taiye Taiwo, Chinedu Ogbuke and Sani Kaita, optimism was quite high in the Nigeria camp.
That dream was punctured by a Lionel Messi-inspired side. The Argentines ran out 2-0 winners in the final game of Holland 2005 thanks to two goals by the Barcelona star.
That was the day Nigerians had a ‘home dressing’ from Lionel Messi, but it certainly won’t be the last.
Three years later at the Beijing Olympics, Nigeria (again led by Samson Siasia) met Argentina in the final of the football event at the Bed’s Nest in Beijing.
Nigeria matched Argentina for large spells in the game and looked to be in the ascendancy as the game went into the latter stages.
Yet again, like the genius he is, Lionel Messi conjured a moment of brilliance to provide an assist for Angel De Maria to score the winner as Argentina picked the gold medal and condemned Nigeria to second place yet again.
Messi will go on to establish himself on the global stage after the games winning the Champions League, La Liga title, Copa Del Rey, Uefa Super Cup and the World Club Cup to etch his name in history.
The next tie the two teams met with the Barcelona striker in full show, it was pain all over again as a Messi-led Argentina inflicted more misery on Nigeria.
The setting was the Bangladesh National Stadium in Dhaka in September 2011 in a 3-1 win for Albiceleste.
Messi created the first goal for Gonzalo Higuain to give Argentina a 1-0 lead and he was also involved in the second goal for Argentina.
Mike Obi was caught in possession in midfield, Messi nipped the ball from the Chelsea midfielder’s feet and went on a mazy run that saw him beat four Nigerian defenders.
Despite Dele Aiyenugba’s valiant effort to save Messi’s goal-bound shot, he spilt the ball for an on-rushing Angel De Maria to score.
Chinedu Ogbuke pulled one back for Nigeria but Argentina scored again to end the game 3-1.
The ‘Messi debacle’ continued yet again three years later, this time at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
The Super Eagles were up against Argentina is the group stage and Messi once again proved to be Nigeria’s nemesis as he inspired his gang to a 3-2 win over Nigeria.
He was the difference between Nigeria and the Argentines.
Messi opened the scoring with a ferocious shot into the roof of the Nigeria net in the 26th minute before Ahmed Musa’s beautiful curler drew the Super Eagles level.
It was going to take Lionel Messi to create something special as his free-kick from almost 30 yards beat Nigeria goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama to put the Argies back in the lead.
Ahmed Musa will once again come to Nigeria’s rescue with another well-taken goal to tie the game but Argentina had the last laugh through a Marcos Rojo header from a corner kick.
It was a very interesting game and for the umpteenth time, the difference between the two sides was the little fellow wearing the number ten shirt.
Messi’s retirement at 29 might seems a bit premature.He might change his mind in the future but for now,the average Nigerian fan will be happy he did.
At least, from a Nigerian perspective, the fear of Messi is the beginning of wisdom.
Thank you for the memories little magician.
Posted by Janice Johnson (Source: GOAL)
