If Lionel Messi came out of international retirement to help Argentina win the World Cup then he might have been walking right back into retirement as he watched his countrymen lose 6-1 to Spain on Tuesday night.
Lionel Messi is either the greatest player in the world and it's a shame he's never won anything on an international level or a big fraud who freezes when it really matters for his country.
Considering he's helped get them to three international finals in a row, in the World Cup and two Copa Americas, only losing in extra time and on penalties, the second assessment always seems harsh.
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After the second loss to Chile he walked out on Argentina only to return and help them qualify for the World Cup. Any team with their talent has a chance to win the tournament as long as it's there.
However on Tuesday night they may have proved how far from that and how far behind Spain they actually are. The 2010 World Cup winners thrashed a Messiless Argentina 6-1, with Isco grabbing a hat-trick.
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The Argentine captain was sat in the stands for the match because of an injury but could watch no longer when the sixth goal went in:
With Gerard Pique, Jordi Alba and Andres Iniesta in the Spain team for tonight's game Messi might want to turn the 'Barcelona team' Whatsapp chat onto mute for a couple of days, or at least until they're back in training.
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Things could of course turn around by the World Cup and the truth that any team with Messi in it has a chance does not change but Argentina's defence is a huge worry, there was only six shots on target and they conceded from them all.
Spain's form on the other hand is bloody scary. Their depth is, as always, very good and if Diego Costa can find form, in a way he couldn't in Brazil four years ago, there's every chance they'll repeat their success from South Africa.
Back to Messi though and retirement from Argentina could really be looming once again, this time for good.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Football News, Barcelona, Lionel Messi, Argentina, World Cup, Spain