*MOSCOW – Four France goals ended Lionel Messi’s fourth World Cup onSaturday and may have brought down the curtain on an international careerseemingly destined to end in disappointment.*——————————
Tens of thousands of Argentines poured into Kazan hoping to see Messi carryan ageing side over one more hurdle after his solitary goal in Russiahelped avoid an embarrassing group-stage exit against Nigeria.
He played his part with two assists in a World Cup classic in the last-16tie but it was not enough to save Argentina’s fragile defence from thefirepower of France and, in particular, 19-year-old Kylian Mbappe in a 4-3defeat.
“It will depend how we do, how it ends,” Messi said before heading toRussia on whether he would continue on the international stage after theWorld Cup.
The last 16 is the earliest he has exited the competition.
Having turned 31 earlier in the tournament, it looks increasingly likedefeat in the final four years ago is as close as he will come to matchingDiego Maradona’s feat of leading Argentina to glory in 1986.
For all his heroics at club level with Barcelona, Messi — who left hishomeland for the Catalan capital aged just 13 — is still looked uponunfavourably when set against Maradona by many in Argentina, who comparetheir records at international level.
After the 2014 defeat to Germany in Brazil, there was more heartbreak onpenalties in the final of the 2015 Copa America and the 2016 Copa AmericaCentenario, both times at the hands of Chile.
Messi missed his spot-kick in the 2016 final, prompting an uncharacteristicspur-of-the-moment decision to retire from international football.
“The fact we’ve lost three finals led to some complicated moments with theArgentine press due to the differences in seeing what it means to reach afinal,” Messi told Barcelona-based newspaper Sport.
“It is not easy and has to be appreciated. It’s true that winning them isimportant, but getting there is not easy.”
*– Messi reverses retirement –*
That became obvious as, even after Messi quickly reversed his retirementfrom international football, Argentina struggled to even make it to Russia.
Messi missed eight qualifying matches through injury and suspension, ofwhich Argentina won only one.
Trailing 1-0 to Ecuador in their final qualifier, the two-time worldchampions were on course to miss out on the World Cup for the first timesince 1970 until Messi stepped up to score a hat-trick at altitude in Quito.
Messi’s heroics that night could not cover over the cracks appearing on thefield, nor his frustration with a chaotic federation off it.
Messi publicly described the Argentine federation as “a disaster” due tologistical problems suffered by the team during the 2016 Copa America.
Argentina’s preparations for Russia were disrupted when their final warm-upfriendly against Israel was cancelled over security fears after the venueof the game was switched to Jerusalem.
The fallout from the defeat to France has already begun, with JavierMascherano the first of many players expected to retire from internationalfootball.
“From now on I am just another fan,” said the 34-year-old.
Messi would be 35 by the time the Qatar World Cup kicks off in 2022.
“I think that this World Cup came just in time for us,” said Sergio Aguero,who has played alongside Messi at international level since they wereteenagers.
Now Messi must decide whether to prioritise the twilight of his career atclub level with Barca by cutting down on regular transatlantic trips toserve his country.
Or if he can summon up the energy for one last shot at glory in Argentina’scolours. – APP/AFP