Copa America 2007, Lionel Messi was a key factor in the Argentina squad and was voted the best young player of the tournament. But in the final, Argentina lost 0-3 to the bitter Brazil.
Seven years later, Argentina met Germany in the 2014 World Cup final, after defeating strong sides Belgium and the Netherlands. But once again, La Albiceleste missed the deadline.
The gloomy final streak between Argentina and Messi continued in Copa America 2015 and 2016, when they both lost to Chile on penalties, suffering their 6th consecutive defeat in the final of a major tournament.
The pain was in 2016, because his opponent Cristiano Ronaldo won a double at EURO and the Champions League.
In addition, Barcelona was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the second time in three seasons. And finally, while CR7 won the Ballon d'Or, Messi was not in the Top 3 Best Players in Europe.
Three years later, Messi accumulated individual titles such as: Best Player and Top Scorer of La Liga, Top Scorer of Champions League; Golden Shoe for the 3rd consecutive time, FIFA The Best, and The 6th Golden Ball in his career, but his joy was still not really complete, as Barca only won the King's Cup runner-up, being reversed by Liverpool in the Champions League semi-finals, while the Argentina team only ranked 3rd in the South American arena.
Messi's defeat in the Argentina team has created an unforgettable knot. At the same time, Messi's departure from the national team in 2016 (and return after a few months) has made many people think he lacks leadership qualities.
Fate has created a Messi with superb skills and full of individual titles, but is caught up in a huge debt with the national team's national team's national team's national team.
But since 2021, Messi has led Argentina to the Copa America championship, where he personally received the Best Player award, Top Scorer and Assist King. This is the beginning, the unlock to break the curse. Messi has finally won his first national team title.
In June 2022, Messi shined again with a double assist to help Argentina defeat Italy - the reigning European champions 3-0 to win the Intercontinental Super Cup.
Winning 2 titles in 2 consecutive years, Messi proved that if fate always teases and makes dreams come true, then continue and strive constantly, because happiness will smile in the future.
It was those perfect runs that helped Messi continue his top form when scoring 7 goals and 3 assists at the 2022 World Cup, including a double in the final against France, bringing Argentina to the championship.
In the 2024 Copa America, although Messi did not have his best tournament, was injured and left the field early in the final, he still played an important role in the spirit of Argentina's successful defense of the championship. Messi has his 45th trophy to become the player with the most collective titles in football history.
Messi has reached a glorious pinnacle with 8 Ballons d'Or, including the World Cup and Copa America with the national team, having everything at the club level. His presence on the pitch always creates strong and unforgettable emotions in the hearts of fans.
In the national team, Messi has not won any trophies before the age of 34, even a series of failures. But looking back, those failures are a reflection to make what he has achieved in the final stages of his career become more sparkling.
