Filming footage of Messi's career, for more than 2 decades, Lionel Messi has always been the center of the biggest moments in football history.
First, he became a global star at Barcelona and then went through many years of trying to conquer demanding fans in Argentina. Now, his international career has closed.
He once retired from the Argentine national team at the age of 29, after a journey through painful defeats, harsh criticism. Then the reappearance and finally the FIFA World Cup championship that he had pursued for many years.
This ending is very different from what Messi imagined in 2016. At that time, after a series of extreme disappointments, he believed he could not continue.
10 years later, he stopped after winning the Copa America, World Cup with Argentina and affirmed his position as one of the greatest players in Argentina's history in particular and the world in general.
It all started with a napkin in Barcelona
A long time before Messi carried Argentina's hopes, his football future was a big question mark.
In 2000, the 13-year-old boy left Rosario to go to Spain for a trial in Barcelona. The talent is undeniable, but there are still concerns about age, small physique and the cost of treating physical hormone deficiency.
Some people at Barcelona at that time were not completely convinced. Carles Rexach, the team's football director at that time, finally decided that they could not let this young talent slip away.
Negotiations with Messi's family lasted continuously. At a meeting at the Pompeia tennis club, Rexach took a napkin and recorded the contract signing agreement.
It read: "At Barcelona, on December 14, 2000, in the presence of Mr. Minguella and Horacio (Gaggioli), Carles Rexach - Football Director of F.C. B. - with his responsibility and despite all dissenting opinions, agreed to sign a contract with player Lionel Messi, as long as the agreed costs were met".
Horacio Gaggioli initially thought the boy was too small to play football when he saw him at the airport. However, that suspicion completely disappeared as soon as he witnessed Messi handling the ball on the field.
The teenager then joined the La Masia academy and made his professional debut in 2004. What happened later at Barcelona turned Messi into a global football icon.
Argentina is where criticism is most hurtful
Club success did not immediately come to Messi in the Argentine national team.
He made his national debut in 2005, reaching the 2014 World Cup final, where Argentina lost 0-1 to Germany. The next 2 Copa America finals also ended in defeat to Chile.
The second defeat knocked him down.
At the age of 29, after Argentina lost in a penalty shootout in 2016, Messi announced his retirement from international career. He missed his penalty and experienced 4 defeats in major tournament finals with the national team.
For me, the national team is over. I did everything I could. It's painful not to be the champion. 4 finals have passed, I tried. That's what I desired most, but I couldn't achieve it, so I think it's all over," Messi shared in the summer of 2016.
The reaction at that time showed how much the Argentine people wanted him to succeed, but it also reflected the pressure and criticism he had to endure for many years. Messi is a superstar at Barcelona, but the inability to win any major titles with the national team is still a hot topic of debate.
His retirement decision only lasted a few weeks. In August 2016, Messi returned, with the explanation: "I love this country and this jersey too much".
That comeback finally changed the last chapter in his career with La Albiceleste.
In 2021, Messi won his first major international title when Argentina won the Copa America. 1 year later, the cup he had been searching for throughout his career also appeared.
At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Messi led Argentina to the championship, quenching the 36-year title drought of the South American nation. He scored 7 goals and won the Golden Ball.
Last farewell
Messi's latest decision took place after another World Cup final, but this time in completely different circumstances.
Argentina lost 0-1 to Spain in 2026, and in his announcement on August 31, Messi revealed that he had decided to say goodbye just 2 days after that defeat.
That is what makes Messi's story with Argentina very special.
At the age of 29, he left because of too painful defeats. He returned because he could not leave his country and homeland colors. 6 years later, Leo finally fulfilled the wishes of Argentinians with the world championship title.
Now, after more than 2 decades of dedication to the national team, Messi has left in his own way. The journey started from a teenager with a future at Barca hastily written on the last napkin that turned to the last page of the book.
