19 July,2026 08:58 AM IST | New Jersey | AFP
Lionel Messi during the semi-final against England. Pic/AFP
Lionel Messi will return on Sunday to the MetLife Stadium for the World Cup final against Spain, seeking the perfect end to his redemption arc that began here a decade ago, when he nearly ended his international career.
Messi had turned 29 in June 2016 and was already among the greatest players ever. He had won the Ballon d'Or five times and had four Champions League titles to his name.
But his incredible success in the club game was not matched at the international level, where he had endured the pain of three defeats in major tournament finals with Argentina (they had lost the 2007 Copa America to Brazil 0-3, the 2014 World Cup final to Germany 0-1, and the 2015 Copa America to Chile 1-4).
So he went to the 2016 Copa America Centenario in the USA on a mission to finally win a major title with his country, only for Chile to deny him once again by winning 2-4 on penalties, with Messi even missing his spot-kick.
Messi was heartbroken. "For me the national team is over. I've done all I can, I've been in four finals and it hurts not to be a champion," he had said.
His words plunged Argentina into darkness, and it took Diego Maradona's persuasion for him to change his mind six weeks later.
The second half of his international career could not have contrasted more starkly with what came before.
Following Lionel Scaloni's appointment as coach in 2018 and a couple of years of steady progress, they went to Brazil for Copa America 2021, and this time they beat the hosts 1-0 in the final to win their first major title in 28 years.
World Cup glory followed at Qatar 2022, with Messi dragging his team to the final and then to victory on penalties against France (4-2), crowning his glorious career in the process. "I'd like to end my career with this, I cannot ask for more," said Messi after the match, but instead he kept on going and kept on winning, as they beat Italy 3-0 in the 2022 Finalissima and Colombia 1-0 in the Copa America final in 2024.
This World Cup initially felt like a victory lap for Messi, but he clearly still means business even at 39, having racked up eight goals and four assists in seven games.
If he can lead Argentina to victory over Spain, the venue that witnessed his tears of sorrow 10 years ago could witness his tears of joy this time.
33
No. of goal contributions (goals + assists) for Messi across 33 World Cup games
11
No. of consecutive FIFA World Cup games Messi has scored or assisted in
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