GOAL picks the most magical and meaningful goals, assists and performances of the GOAT's international career
And now, the end is near, with Lionel Messi almost certainly set to bring the curtain down on his illustrious Argentina career at next summer's World Cup, which will be played in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Of course, we thought that the Albiceleste captain would retire after leading his country to glory in Qatar in 2022 – but Messi had so much fun playing under Lionel Scaloni that he decided to continue.
However, it won't be long now before the diminutive No.10 walks away from the international arena, so as he prepares to play the final World Cup qualifiers of his illustrious career, GOAL has picked out Messi's 10 most memorable moments representing his country at senior level, from announcing himself on the world stage in 2006 to claiming the game's most prestigious prize 16 years later…
AFP10Dream debut
Despite missing the final few months of his breakout season at Barcelona through injury, Messi was included in Argentina's 2006 World Cup squad and football fans all across the globe couldn't wait to see the teenager make his tournament debut in Germany.
Messi spent the entirety of his country's opener against Ivory Coast on the bench, but he came on in the closing stages of the matchday-two meeting with Serbia and Montenegro – and immediately made his mark on the game's grandest stage.
During a sensational 16-minute cameo, Messi scored one goal and created another with a delighted Diego Maradona watching on from the stands at the Arena AufSchalke in Gelsenkirchen. "He's not just good," the iconic No.10 said of the kid he anointed his heir, "he's special."
AdvertisementAFP9Great group stage
After netting on his World Cup debut, Messi would remarkably have to wait eight years for his second tournament goal, as South Africa 2010 was a disaster for both the Barcelona superstar and Maradona, who parted company with Argentina shortly after the humiliating 4-0 quarter-final loss to Germany.
Consequently, Messi was under intense pressure to deliver in Brazil 2014, and although the Albiceleste's campaign ended in agony, their No.10 began brightly.
'' scored the decisive second goal in the 2-1 win over Bosnia & Herzegovina, after a delightful bit of precise play on the edge of the penalty box, and even better was to follow on matchday two, with Messi breaking Iranian hearts with a stunning injury-time winner struck from wide on the right-hand side of the box.
The attacker then put the seal on a fantastic group stage from a personal perspective by scoring two more goals in the 3-2 win over Nigeria – the second of which was a stunning free-kick.
Getty Images Sport8Landmark appearance
Argentina's 2022 World Cup last-16 clash with Australia was Lionel Messi's 1000th game as a professional. Unsurprisingly, he marked the occasion with a typically mesmerising performance.
"A special player to watch," Socceroos midfielder Keanu Baccus said of Messi, who opened the scoring in Argentina's 2-1 win with a wonderfully precise finish from just inside the area.
"He looks fake on the field, he looks a bit like a wax statue, to be honest. It’s surreal how good he actually is and how he watches the game, sees the game and takes it on himself. It's very special because not many people can do that, so I was trying to watch over my shoulder just to see where he was and what he was doing all the time."
AFP7Brilliance against Brazil
Argentina's meeting with Brazil in East Rutherford in June 2012 may have only been a friendly, but it was a hugely significant game for Messi, who produced the kind of devastating display that his countrymen had been awaiting for some time.
The fact that it came against Argentina's biggest rivals made it all the more meaningful. As Messi said after hitting a hat-trick in a thrilling 4-3 win, "It's always beautiful to beat Brazil, and I'm very happy with my three goals."
The first two were both fine finishes, but the third, which decided the game in Argentina's favour, was the pick of the bunch, with Messi picking up the ball in midfield before driving forward and unleashing an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the Brazil net.
"No one in the world has found a solution to Messi," Selecao coach Mano Menezes pointed out afterwards. "He had four chances and scored three goals…Against some players, you cannot give them any space at all."
As for then-Albiceleste coach Alejandro Sabella, he simply said, "We're lucky Leo's Argentine!"
