Messi was just a step away from being world champion in Brazil 2014
7: The long-awaited revenge
After several disappointments following the 2nd place in 2014, including two consecutive lost Copa América finals against Chile and a disastrous 2018 World Cup, Messi finally found his ultimate relief in the 2021 Copa América.
The National Team defeated Brazil 1-0 at the Maracanã with a goal from Ángel Di María and reclaimed a title after 28 years. Messi, captain and star, lifted his first official trophy with the Senior National Team. The image of the "10" raising the cup in Rio de Janeiro became the symbol of the end of a long wait.
8: The third star
With the burden of winning something with the National Team off his back, Messi arrived with the necessary momentum to once again pursue his ultimate aspiration with the sky blue and white: a World Cup. Qatar 2022 was the pinnacle of his career. After an unexpected debut against Saudi Arabia, Lionel Scaloni's team reacted and built an unforgettable campaign to reach the final against France.
In Lusail, Messi was a key player with two goals and converted his penalty in the shootout. Argentina won 4-2 after a 3-3 draw in 120 minutes, and at 35 years old, the captain finally lifted the World Cup. The third star came from the hands of the "10," who fulfilled the great dream he had pursued throughout his career with the National Team.
9: The king of America
After finally conquering the football world at the national team level, it was time to think regionally again, with the defense of the continental title as the first stop. The 2024 Copa América once again saw Messi as one of the main protagonists of the Argentine National Team, which reached the final to face Colombia.
In Miami, Lionel Scaloni's team won 1-0 with a goal from Lautaro Martínez in extra time and achieved back-to-back continental championships. Messi, who had to leave the field due to injury, lifted the trophy again as captain and added a new title to a golden era with the sky blue and white. In this way, Argentina confirmed its dominance in America, and the captain was crowned once again as the king of the continent.
10: The almost ideal ending
With nothing more to prove, Messi would face what we now know would be his last tournament with the National Team: the 2026 World Cup. At 39 years old, the Rosario star was one of the undisputed figures not only of Scaloni's team but also of the entire competition, guiding the country once again to a World Cup final after overcoming several very challenging stages.
Messi is about to close his career with the Argentine National Team with a golden touch
The Albiceleste reached the decisive match with the hope of lifting the World Cup again; however, the outcome was not as expected: Spain won 1-0 in extra time, leaving the Argentine team on the brink of a second consecutive world championship. This match, unfortunately, was the final chapter of Lionel Andrés Messi's story with the Argentine National Team, but it will not overshadow what he gave to the Argentine people in his more than 20 years representing the country.
Lionel Messiclosed his cycle with theArgentine National Team after more than two decades and a history that included frustrations, lost finals, and finally, a collection of titles that made him one of the greatest figures in the history of Argentine football.
From his debut in 2005 to his last match in the final of the 2026 World Cup, the Rosario native left an indelible mark with the albiceleste jersey. For this reason, it is necessary to review the ten moments that defined his extensive journey with the national team.
The most notable moments of Lionel Messi with the Argentine National Team
1: His debut
On August 17, 2005, Lionel Messi made his debut with the Senior National Team in a friendly against Hungary, held in Budapest. At 63 minutes into the game, José Pekerman decided to give him his first minutes; however, he could do little, as just seconds after his entry, he was sent off after a scuffle with Vilmos Vanczák. That day, which began with great expectations, ended abruptly, but it would only be the first chapter of an extraordinary story.
2: His first goal
Despite his bitter start, the Flea managed to bounce back a few months later with his debut goal. Messi's first shout came on March 1, 2006, in a friendly againstCroatia in Basel. The forward received an assist from Carlos Tevez and finished to score the partial 2-1.
3: His first World Cup
His outstanding level both at Barcelona and in his early appearances with the Albiceleste led him to be part of Pekerman's squad for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. The then-youngster debuted against Serbia and Montenegro, coming on in the second half and participating in the 6-0 rout. In that match, he scored his first World Cup goal and became the youngest Argentine to score in a World Cup.
4: The gold in the Olympics
Alongside his life at Barça and the Senior National Team, the Rosario star faced one of his biggest challenges until then: the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In that tournament, he played a leading role in a team full of emerging stars like Ángel Di María, Sergio "Kun" Agüero, Sergio "Chiquito" Romero, Fernando Gago, and Ezequiel Lavezzi, as well as established figures like Javier Mascherano and Juan Román Riquelme. After overcoming several strong rivals along the way, Sergio Batista's team faced Nigeria in the grand final, winning 1-0 to claim the gold medal.
5: The World Cup of the two 10s
Although it was not one of his best World Cups in terms of results, South Africa 2010 had a particularity that would be forever etched in memory: Messi was coached by Diego Maradona. The two greatest exponents in the history of Argentine football shared a World Cup, with Maradona as coach and Messi as the great reference on the field. Argentina advanced with authority to the quarter-finals, where they fell 4-0 to Germany, but that World Cup remained a unique postcard of two generations of "10s" together.
Maradona coached Messi in the 2010 World Cup
6: So close to touching the sky
Brazil 2014 represented one of Messi's highest points with the National Team and, at the same time, one of his greatest sports frustrations. Argentina reached the World Cup final after defeating Switzerland, Belgium, and the Netherlands in the decisive stages. At the Maracanã, Germany won 1-0 in extra time with a goal from Mario Götze. Messi received the Golden Ball of the tournament but fell just short of the title he desired most.
