Argentina have reportedly introduced a new rule that would've seen Lionel Messi banned.
Messi, 38, will forever be remembered as one of the greatest players of all time.
The Argentine superstar has played for the likes of Newell's Old Boys, Barcelona and Paris Saint Germain before moving to MLS side Inter Miami.
To date, Messi has made 973 club appearances, scoring 792 goals.
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He has also won a record total of eight Ballon d'Or trophies, as well as 10 La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues.
On the international stage, Messi has been capped 196 times by Argentina, scoring 115 goals in the process. He also lifted the 2022 World Cup.
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However, it has recently been reported that Argentina are set to introduce a new rule, which would have seen Messi banned from playing for his country's youth team.
As per One Football, Argentina will not call up any player who moves to Europe without signing a professional contract in Argentina first.
According to Rising Ballers, who wrote on social media: "Argentina will stop calling up to its youth national teams any player who moves to Europe without first signing a professional contract in Argentina.
"Players that leave on a free transfer won’t receive national team call-ups due to “patria potestad” which protects the interests of youth-developing clubs."
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When he was young, Messi left Argentina to sign with Barcelona, meaning he would've been banned from playing for the country's youth teams if he made the move now.
The director of the Argentine Football Association's youth teams, Javier Méndez Cartier, said: "By decision of our President and his Executive Committee, this AFA administration always seeks to defend the interests of the clubs that develop players. Anyone who does not understand this and chooses to use parental rights to emigrate will not be called up to any youth national team."
Topics: Argentina, Lionel Messi, Football
Marcus Chan