The one thing missing from Lionel Messi's incredible career is a win in an international tournament, but it's not for a want of trying. One failure in particular left him in tears on his own at 2 am.
Is Lionel Messi the greatest player ever? It's difficult to say for sure but as Tiger Woods once suggested, it's an honour just being in the conversation and the Barcelona forward is definitely in the conversation.
Of course there's plenty that argue that Messi isn't even the best player right now because of the five time Ballon d'Or winner, Cristiano Ronaldo. The two men can barely be separated on anything.
The one thing that they are separated on and continues to haunt Messi is his lack of success in international competitions. He has yet to win one whilst Ronaldo can show off about his Euros win in 2016.
Advert
Messi's troubles in internationals continued in the World Cup with Argentina a shell of their usual selves and crashing out at the second round stage, although they were lucky to even make it that far.
It was a low for Messi but not his lowest. Former national team fitness coach Elvio Paolorosso explained on Argentine radio how he found Messi after the 2016 Copa America final:
"The dressing room after the Copa America was very painful, but the worst was to come.
"At two in the morning, more or less, I went to the store room and found Leo [Messi] completely alone, crying like a kid who lost his mother.
Advert
"He was distraught and nobody could console him. I gave him a hug and we had a little whine together.
"I had Messi in Barcelona and Argentina and all I have for him are words of gratitude. He always cooperated well and even noticed if the pitch was hard or soft."
Argentina lost the final of that Copa on penalties to Chile and a year before had lost the final in the exact same circumstances to the same South American rivals.
Advert
A year before that they'd reached the World Cup final in Brazil, only to lose in extra time to Germany, meaning they lost in three finals in three summers.
The 2016 loss to Chile led to Messi retiring from international football but the 31 year old was soon back to World Cup qualifying and without his hat-trick in the final game they wouldn't have even got to Russia.
It's a shame for the five time Ballon d'Or winner that he's judged solely on this issue now, it clearly matters to him.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Football News, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Argentina, Copa America, World Cup, La Liga