Team-mates sobbed as their favourite star turned their back on the stage clutching a bouquet of 126 international goals in front of an 85,000-strong audience.La Albiceleste scripted a fairytale exit for the 39-year-old as they cruised to a 3-0 win over Benin, in what was titled the ‘Last Tango’.
And if there is to be another ‘Messi’, they will have to match his record-breaking 208 appearances in the famous blue and white shirt.
SunSport explores Messi’s biggest Argentina moments from his jaw-dropping debut in 2006 to his spectacular curtain call.
A debut of dreams
Baby-faced Leo leapt up from the bench to make his World Cup debut in Argentina’s 2006 clash against Serbia & Montenegro.
And despite only getting onto the pitch in the 74th-minute, Messi crossed to Hernan Crespo for an assist, before completing the rout with a low finish. The 6-0 victory sent Argentina through to the last 16, as Messi was crowned their youngest ever World Cup player and goal-scorer at 18 years and 358 days.
Heart of gold
Barcelona had combed through their law books to legally block Messi from travelling to Beijing for the 2008 Olympics.
They won the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport but luckily his new boss intervened.
Pep Guardiola convinced the club to let him go and Messi joined ranks with Sergio Aguero, Juan Roman Riquelme, and Angel Di Maria.
He provided a spine-tingling assist to the latter to secure gold in a 1-0 win over Nigeria.
Golden Ball
In the 91st minute of a frustrating goalless stalemate against Iran, Messi proved to be the difference at the 2014 World Cup.
The South American cut inside and launched a 25-yard strike that curled around Gonzalo Higuain to save Argentina’s blushes.
Messi had ‘get-out-of-jail-free’ cards to spare as he booked their knockout spot with four goals and four consecutive Man of the Match awards.
They reached their first World Cup final in 24 years.
And while not lifting the title, he secured the Golden Ball as the best player of the tournament.
Bat-ting records away
Gabriel Batistuta’s 56-goal record had stood for 14 years, until Messi stepped up to take a free kick in a clash against the USA.
And in trademark style, he guided the ball like a dart to bullseye into the top corner.
His team-mates went wild as the Puskas-nominated effort left keeper Brad Guzan stunned.
Since 2016, he’s made a total of 71 goals, while Batistuta is STILL second.
Rescue mission
Staring down the barrel at an early exit in 2017, Argentina looked as if they may miss out on their first World Cup in 47 years.
Only a win against Ecuador, in the altitude of Quito would be enough to guarantee them a place in the tournament in Russia.
And just 30 seconds in, they were 1-0 down and staring into the abyss.
But Messi responded in the only way he knew how… with a magic hat-trick of course.
And all of a sudden, they were packing their bags for Russia in 2018.
End of the drought
The rivalry between Argentina and Brazil is not for the faint-hearted, and it had been one-sided for the vast majority of Messi’s international career.
The Selecao had won four and drawn two of their six meetings the teams since Messi’s debut, with Argentina yet to win a single one.
And they were current Copa America holders defending their title on home soil, albeit in front of a reduced crowd due to Covid restrictions.
But the iconic Maracana, Argentina ended their 28-year curse with a deft lob from Angel Di Maria.
That Copa America became Messi’s first major senior international trophy and ended five years of bragging rights Cristiano Ronaldo fans had had after the Argentine’s great rival lifted the Euro 2016 trophy with Portugal.
Battle of Lusail
For anyone claiming Messi lacked the fire in his belly to compare to Diego Maradona was silenced in the 2022 World Cup’s quarter-final.
Messi pulled off a jaw-dropping no-look reverse pass through five Dutch defenders to assist Nahuel Molina. And despite a late Dutch comeback that forced extra time and penalties, Messi’s electric energy carried them to a 4–3 win on penalties after a 2–2 draw.
Messi confronted Netherlands boss Louis van Gaal and the rest of the bench with the ‘Topo Gigio’ celebration.
Off Gvard
On the back of a horrific opening 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia, Argentina were only 30 minutes away from a catastrophic group-stage elimination against a hardy Mexican setup.
But in the 64th minute, Messi picked up a pass from Di Maria, took one touch, and unleashed a 25-yard low laser into the bottom corner.
From then on, Argentina transformed from a panicked squad into world champs.
In their semi-final showdown, Messi dragged Croatia’s Josko Gvardiol down the touchline – running rings around the future Man City title winner, who had been excelling up until that point.
He then picked out Julian Alvarez to seal the 3–0 semi-final win.
Mbappe match-up
As the years wore on, many supporters claimed Messi did not need to win the World Cup to be the greatest player of all time.
But back home, you’d have been hard pressed to find someone who would call him the greatest Argentine of all time without lifting the Jules Rimet trophy. Millions had been raised watching the great Diego Maradona and were wondering whether Messi would ever win the World Cup and match the icon.
And in the final of finals against world champions France, Messi found the back of the net TWICE. Yet whatever he did, then-PSG team-mate Kylian Mbappe replied at the other end, in fact outscoring him with a hat-trick for the French. – Sun.
