On Tuesday, October 6, Lionel Messi plays his last ever match in an Argentina jersey, and seriously, trying to wrap your head around the end of this run, one of the most incredible soccer legacies ever, it’s just wild. After he finally bagged that 2022 World Cup, Messi checked off the last big milestone his career was missing. He completely redefined his national team legacy, a team he’s been with since 2005, back when he first burst onto the scene at the 2005 Under-20 World Cup. He even stuck around for four more years, just for good measure, helping Argentina finish second in 2026.
From Prodigy to Punching Bag: Battling the Ghost of Maradona
From the moment Messi debuted with Argentina and Barcelona, everyone knew he was a superstar in the making. But being from Argentina, it meant he was immediately stacked up against the legend of legends: Diego Armando Maradona. I mean, the question always hung in the air: would Messi become the *new* Maradona? Even though he won everything under the sun with Barcelona, his first decade with the Argentinian national team was a serious grind. It got so tough, he actually retired from the national team after losing back-to-back Copa America finals in 2015 and 2016. That constant comparison, it definitely got to him. He just couldn’t bring that same joy Maradona gave millions of Argentinian fans in ’86, when Argentina took home the World Cup in Mexico. The pressure was immense.
The Unforgettable Comeback: Redemption and a Legacy All His Own
But Argentina, his nation, wasn’t going to let him stay gone. They coaxed him back, and man, did things ever turn around in 2021. That’s when Messi finally won his first-ever Copa America. Talk about a breakthrough! That set the stage for the absolute magic of the 2022 World Cup. He scored seven goals in that tournament, flat-out won the World Cup, and was named player of the tournament. The dude even snagged his last Ballon d’Or in 2023. Then, just to prove it wasn’t a fluke, he won *another* Copa America in 2024, beating Colombia in the final. That stretch, from 2021 to 2024, it’s easily one of the greatest cycles in Argentinian soccer history. And get this: that amazing run was almost topped by the 2026 World Cup. Argentina made it all the way to the final, but Spain managed to snatch the win. Only a few weeks after that tough final loss, Messi announced his retirement. It came right after the news of his father, Jorge’s, passing. What a rollercoaster of emotions for the GOAT.
So, for years, the debate raged: is Messi better than Maradona? After the 2022 World Cup glory, that talk just exploded. It’s still a hot topic, and honestly, it’ll probably be debated for generations. But one thing’s for sure, that October 6th match against Benin isn’t just a game. It’s the final chapter for a player who, through struggle and triumph, ultimately wrote a legacy so powerful, he stepped out of any shadow and remade Argentina in his own image. Get ready to watch history one last time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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