How convincing Argentina of his greatness became Lionel Messi’s toughest battle
Messi bounced back in spectacular fashion at club level, winning his second La Liga, Champions League and Copa Del Rey treble at Barcelona. Forming one third of an unstoppable attacking triumvirate alongside Luis Suarez and Neymar, Messi registered a combined 86 goals and assists across all competitions, prompting then-Barca boss Luis Enrique to claim the Argentine is “from another dimension”.
Those staggering achievements left Messi wide open to attack at the 2015 Copa America, though. He led Argentina to another final, but Chile pulled off an upset for the ages clinch the trophy after a penalty shootout, and although Messi got another Player of the Tournament nod, he only scored once across six matches.
Maradona was there to rub salt in his wounds again. “It’s logical that he’s come in for flak, it’s easy to explain,” he told Ole. “We’ve got the best player in the world, who goes and scores four goals against Real Sociedad, and then he comes here and doesn’t touch the ball. You’re left saying to yourself, ‘Dammit, are you Argentinian or Swedish?'”
Messi was also called out by his own grandfather, Antonio Cuccitini, who said to Radio Casilda: “Some of him was there. But the last three games he was bad. He was lazy.” He and Argentina, helmed by Gerardo ‘Tata’ Martino at the time, had the opportunity for almost immediate redemption a year later, though, as the Copa America was staged again as a one-off exception to the usual four-year cycle to celebrate CONMEBOL’s 100th anniversary and the tournament’s formation in 1916.
Not that Maradona was among those expecting a different outcome, though. “He’s a really good person, but he has no personality,” Maradona said just days before the big kick-off in Chile. “He lacks the character to be a leader.” Despite more unnecessarily harsh words from his long-time idol, Argentina made it three finals in as many years by winning all of their first five games, including a 4-0 demolition of the USMNT in the semi-finals that saw Messi find the net with an astonishing 30-yard free-kick to become his nation’s all-time top goalscorer.
That was one of five goals Messi scored at the event, but Martino’s men would succumb to Chile – the tournament hosts – again in the showpiece. Just like in 2015, Argentina and Chile drew 0-0 after 120 minutes, and La Roja came out on top via penalties. This time, though, Messi failed to convert his spot-kick as Argentina’s first taker in the shootout, blazing the ball well over the crossbar.
The captain sobbed uncontrollably at full-time in scenes that were difficult to watch. He had reached breaking point, and an earth-shattering announcement followed. “For me, the national team is over. I’ve done all I can. It hurts not to be a champion,” said Messi. “I think this is best for everyone.”
