Almost eight years ago, Lionel Messi faced a moment of despair at MetLife Stadium. After Argentina's heartbreaking loss to Chile in the 2016 Copa America final, a visibly emotional Messi announced his retirement from international football. "For me, the national team is over. I’ve done all that I can," Messi declared, sending shockwaves through the football world.
At the time, Messi was 29 and had firmly established himself as the leader of Argentina’s national squad. The defeat marked the third consecutive summer Argentina had fallen at the final hurdle, having also lost the 2014 World Cup to Germany and the 2015 Copa America to Chile. However, Messi's decision to retire was short-lived. By August 2016, he had reversed his retirement, a decision that would eventually lead to his most glorious moments on the international stage.
Fast forward to 2021, Messi finally broke his trophy drought by securing the Copa America, followed by a historic victory at the 2022 World Cup. His resilience and determination have been nothing short of inspirational, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
A New Generation
As Argentina prepares for the 2024 tournaments, Messi remains one of only three players on the current roster who participated in the 2016 Copa America. The squad now features a blend of seasoned veterans and promising young talents, including 26-year-old center back Cristian Romero and 19-year-old forward Alejandro Garnacho. This mix of experience and youth aims to continue Argentina's legacy of excellence on the international stage.
Performance and Areas for Improvement
In a recent match against Canada, Argentina managed 19 shots but underperformed on their 3.02 expected goals tally. Canada, in turn, was allowed to take 10 shots on Argentina's goal, highlighting areas where the team needs improvement. Coach Lionel Scaloni has hinted at these key areas, particularly emphasizing the need to limit their opponent’s attacking opportunities.
“We have a very particular strategy and game plan and the opponent poses difficulties. What we do is try to adjust, try to avoid damage to our team and we will try to find the spaces, given the opponent, but the opponent will set the tone of its attack and of course, we will be cautious about that and it's valid to do so,” Scaloni explained.
The center-back pairing of Romero and Lisandro Martinez has solidified under Scaloni's guidance, providing a strong defensive backbone for the team. In the match against Canada, Julian Alvarez, who started alongside Messi, opened the scoring. Lautaro Martinez added a second, assisted by Alexis Mac Allister. Messi demonstrated his continued elite-level capabilities with an assist on Lautaro Martinez’s goal, proving that he remains an indispensable part of the squad.
Focus on the Present
Despite the storied history and numerous titles, Scaloni is focused on the present. “The cups that Chile won, the cups that we won … that is in the past. We are living in the present and this team knows that very well. Each match is a different history and we have to face it as it comes. Previous titles don’t change that,” Scaloni remarked, emphasizing the importance of staying grounded and focused on the task at hand.
Messi's role in the team, both as a leader and a player, continues to be crucial. Scaloni cherishes every moment with the legendary forward. “I think that it’s very important to have him here. Everyone’s asking about the future, the past, but this is the lovely present … The present is very important. What's in the past is in the past and he is enjoying his birthday. We want him to have a good time,” Scaloni noted.
As Argentina marches forward, the lessons from the past and the exuberance of youth combined with the wisdom and skill of veterans like Messi offer a promising outlook. The journey is ongoing, and the team's commitment to excellence remains unwavering.