Messi and Argentina: A story of hopes, failures and triumphs

Lionel Messi’s relationship with Argentina ended after a winding journey from teenage promise to repeated heartbreak and, ultimately, national-team glory. His retirement announcement closes one of the defining chapters in the history of the Albiceleste.

Messi moved to Spain at 13 in 2000 to join Barcelona’s youth academy. His performances at La Masia soon attracted offers to represent Spain, but his father, Jorge Messi, pushed to preserve his son’s connection with Argentina. The effort succeeded in June 2004, when the 17-year-old played for Argentina’s under-20 team in a friendly against Paraguay.

A year later, Messi led Argentina to the Under-20 World Cup title in the Netherlands, raising expectations ahead of the 2006 World Cup. His senior debut came in August 2005 against Hungary, where he lasted only a minute before receiving a red card while attempting his first dribble.

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That's it, it's over for me with the national team.

Messi scored his first World Cup goal in Germany in 2006, although Argentina lost to the hosts in the quarterfinals. As his brilliance at Barcelona continued, Argentine supporters grew increasingly frustrated that he did not always reproduce that level with the national team. Comparisons with Diego Maradona added to the pressure.

He won Olympic gold in Beijing in 2008 alongside emerging talents including Sergio Agüero and Ángel Di María. But defeats followed in the 2014 World Cup final against Germany and two consecutive Copa América finals against Chile in 2015 and 2016, both decided on penalties. In mid-2016, the burden became so heavy that Messi said, "That's it, it's over for me with the national team," adding that he had tried many times and was hurting more than anyone.

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I tried so hard, it hurts me more than anyone.