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Lionel Messi 'Wouldn't Trade Barcelona Success For World Cup Win'

Lionel Messi 'Wouldn't Trade Barcelona Success For World Cup Win'

He's won it all- with one notable exception. But Lionel Messi claims that despite it all, he wouldn't change a thing about his career.

Anonymous

Anonymous

By Tom Sanders

Lionel Messi claims that he wouldn't change anything about his career, despite never managing to replicate his incredible club form on an international stage with Argentina.

Despite being named his country's all-time top scorer, winning the player of the tournament award in the 2014 World Cup final, and scooping up accolades in the U20 World Cup in 2005 and a gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics, a major international trophy continues to elude Messi even after all these years.

Messi has failed at four attempts to bag that elusive final piece of silverware, losing in the World Cup final against Germany in 2014, and has also suffered defeat in three Copa America finals.

During his last attempt to take home the prize in Russia, Argentina was defeated 4-3 by eventual winners France and were knocked out in the Round of 16.

Lionel Messi (Photo
PA)

Messi will be 35 by the time Qatar 2022 finally rolls around, and in a recent interview with TyC Sports admits that his chance to bring home that final elusive piece of silverware may finally be behind him.

"I would've loved to be a world champion," Messi said, "But I don't think I would change anything else in my career to be one.

"This is what I was given, what God gave me. It is what it is.

"I couldn't dream of everything that I experienced after. It was far bigger than anything I could've imagined."

Messi's failure to transfer his incredible domestic success to the national team has seen him draw criticism throughout his career, with some claiming that he saves his best performances for his club and neglects his international duties.


Lionel Messi - Argentina
Lionel Messi - Argentina

Despite this uneasy relationship though Messi has continued to maintain a large presence within La Albiceleste, captaining the side since 2011 and even coming out of international retirement to help his side qualify for the World Cup in Russia in 2018.

But after losing three finals in three years and crashing out of Russia after multiple setbacks, time is running out for Messi to change the absence of major success with Argentina, with the upcoming Copa America looking to be his final chance to earn some silverware before what is likely to be his final international tournament in Qatar 2022.

Messi has made 136 appearances for his country, scoring 68 times.

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