He could've easily walked away after the last World Cup, leaving behind the perfect ending. The final chapter written exactly the way everyone dreamed it would be.
But that's never been Messi.
Why chase the perfect picture when you still have something left in your heart to give? Why choose your own fairytale ending when your team still needs you?
The highlight of his career has always been playing for the team, not chasing his own perfect story. And that's probably how his international career ends.
Thank you, Messi, for another all-time World Cup campaign. No matter what happened in the final, history will never forget the sight of a 39-year-old Messi from MLS standing on the biggest stage in football and proving, once again, that greatness has no age.
In 2006, a young Messi was invited to play for Spain. He refused, and chose Argentina with all his heart. The world called it a stupid decision when Spain lifted the World Cup in 2010. Twenty years later, in what may be his final game for Argentina… he faces Spain.
Football has written the most beautiful, poetic full circle!
.@javigiorgetti: "You could split Lionel Messi’s career into two separate halves; 2004 to 2015, and 2016 to 2026."
"Either one, on its own, would still make him the greatest player in football history."
Hoy se termina oficialmente la carrera del futbolista más divertido que vi en mi vida. Y si no hubiera existido aquel 10, para mí habría sido el mejor de todos.
Gracias por todo idolo ❤️
Enough is enough. We’ve reached a point where it feels like anything people say about Argentina will go viral. No one can convince me that everything I’m seeing isn’t driven, at least in part, by chasing engagement.
It’s somehow Argentina’s fault that a clear penalty wasn’t given to them tonight, but no one wants to talk about that because it doesn’t generate interactions.
It’s Argentina’s fault that Portugal didn’t finish top of their group, and that neither Uruguay nor Spain managed to beat Cape Verde.
It’s Argentina’s fault that people keep spamming Messi’s out-of-context tackle against Algeria, while much harsher challenges have gone unpunished throughout this World Cup.
It’s Argentina’s fault that a Cape Verde player dove when Paredes didn’t even touch him, but that doesn’t fit the narrative people want.
We’ve seen terrible VAR decisions and far more controversial incidents throughout this World Cup, yet they barely get any attention because they don’t involve Argentina.
Everything is Argentina’s fault. I've never seen anything like this.
39 years young. Still blessing the world with his magical performances and still filling our tender hearts with immense childlike joy at every opportunity. Take away his World Cup, his CLs, Balon d'ors, goals & assists and he still remains the GOAT.
Happy birthday Leo. Gracias.
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yall gotta stop doing this. everyone tho. it hasnt been 10 hours, just let it be what it is. a fun short upbeat urgent braggadocious album to a diary post about abortion and hair and aging and whatever else i was crying about lol......please just let it rock if you rock with it and if you dont then move the damn on lol