When Lionel Messi takes the field for Argentina against Benin at Buenos Aires’ Monumental stadium on Tuesday, it will mark the conclusion of a remarkable international career spanning over two decades. What began as a period of uncertainty and limited recognition has evolved into one of the most enduring and celebrated relationships in football history.
Messi’s early connection with Argentina’s national team was fraught with challenges. After moving to Barcelona as a teenager, his talents were not immediately recognized by Argentine football officials. The country's football authorities initially struggled to identify the young prodigy, who was developing abroad. Argentine Football Association employee Omar Souto recounted efforts to locate Messi in Spain mistakenly asking for “Leonardo” instead of Lionel. The confusion even extended to official correspondence, with a fax sent to Barcelona inquiring about a player called “Mecci,” reflecting the officials’ uncertainty about his identity.
Despite his evident brilliance, Messi’s early years with Argentina’s youth squads were met with skepticism. At the 2005 Under-20 World Cup in the Netherlands, he began the tournament on the bench amid doubts about his commitment and ability to replicate his club form for the national team. Some fans even labeled him “pecho frio,” implying a lack of passion or fire on the pitch. Argentine journalist Sergio Levinsky noted that the player faced resistance partly because he was seen as an outsider, having honed his skills far from Argentine soil.
A turning point came during a 2011 World Cup qualifying match against Colombia. Messi, visibly exhausted and even vomiting during the game, led Argentina to a comeback victory in difficult conditions. This performance began shifting public perception, showcasing his determination and leadership under pressure. His brief retirement following Argentina’s penalty shootout loss to Chile in the 2016 Copa America final further underscored his importance. Instead of blaming him for the team’s near misses, Argentine supporters publicly urged him to return, acknowledging his role in consistently guiding the team to major finals.
Under the leadership of coach Lionel Scaloni, Messi emerged as the undisputed captain of a new generation. He led Argentina to win two Copa America titles and secured the pinnacle of his international career with victory at the 2022 World Cup. Throughout this evolution, Messi’s leadership style grew more assertive, inviting comparisons to Diego Maradona, another Argentine football icon. However, Levinsky emphasizes that the two should be appreciated as different geniuses who defined separate eras, rather than as figures to be directly compared.
Messi’s bond with Argentina’s fans developed gradually, shaped by his foreign upbringing and career overseas. “Messi was like suddenly finding out you have an 18-year-old son,” Levinsky remarked, highlighting the affection that grew over time for a player who initially seemed distant but became a national treasure. As Messi steps off the international stage, his farewell symbolizes the closing of a hard-won and deeply cherished sporting chapter in Argentina’s football history.