Maybe it was better this way. After all, a fourth consecutive fall at the final hurdle on this stage, to accompany painful failures from 2014-2016 that culminated in a premature retirement from the international circuit from the Barcelona star, would have surely tolled the death knell in representing the Argentina national team for once and for all.
Instead, off the back of the 4-3 World Cup last 16 defeat to France that sent his team packing on Saturday, a far more at ease Lionel Messi when compared to previous disappointments has apparently informed the Argentine Football Association, the AFA, that he will wait until after holding court with his to announce whether or not he is to continue in Albiceleste colours.
As it would be for any outfit lucky enough to have the five time Ballon d’Or winner at its disposal, the AFA’s future rests heavily on that of Messi’s with several issues such as building a squad for the Copa America in Brazil next year and Qatar 2022 chief among them in addition to financial questions tied to the player’s image and the possible backlash from fans should the Rosario native call it a day.
Considering the disagreements Messi reportedly had over the tactical approach of Jorge Sampaoli, who may find himself unemployed in the coming days, its wise to deduce that the coach’s successor must boast a footballing philosophy that combines with the iconic number 10’s should he soldier on.
Displaying introspective behavior even more closed-off than usual, which the Argentine press put down to personal problems resulting in the absence of his wife Antonella Roccuzzo at the tournament, the influence Messi’s nuclear family, with whom coveted downtime is missed whenever on international duty, will have on his final decision is not to be undermined.
In Russia, Messi hardly had the best time of it after missing a penalty in his side’s opening draw with Iceland and experiencing a night to forget during a 3-0 humbling at the hands of Croatia that preceded the dream-ending defeat to the French. Against Nigeria, he scored an important goal that put Argentina ahead in their quest to advance beyond the group but was not successful in shaking off a curse that still sees him unable to get on the scoresheet in the tournament’s knockout phases.
