The footballing world was rocked this morning with the announcement that Lionel Messi was to retire from the Argentinian national team following yet another major finals loss, their 3rd in three years.
Whilst I personally don't think this is the end for Messi internationally, more of a knee jerk reaction from the players to trigger a reaction from the AFA, let's take a look at his five greatest international goals; just in case it is...
5. Argentina U20 2-1 Brazil U20 - 28 June 2005, Utrecht
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Now, this isn't strictly a goal for the Argentine national team but for the youth team, when Messi absolutely tore the 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship to shreds, leading them to victory in the final and claiming both the Best Player and Top Goalscorer awards. The opening goal in their quarter-final with Brazil proved Messi's potential and was a warning to the rest of the world - Leo had arrived.
4. Argentina 4-0 Ecuador - 2 June 2012, Buenos Aires
Messi's goal against Ecuador in 2014 World Cup Qualifying is a classic Leo goal. He picks the ball up inside his own half on the counter, runs with it, plays a neat one-two and emphatically finishes into the top corner. You don't save those.
3. Argentina 1-0 Iran - 21 June 2014, Belo Horizonte
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With Argentina looking like heading towards a disappointing 0-0 draw with Iran at the 2014 World Cup, it came down to Messi to put his country on his shoulders once again and drag them out of the hole they'd dug themselves into. In the 91st minute of the game; Messi picked up a pass from Lavezzi, dribbled inside and wrapped a curling left-foot shot into the far corner, sending Argentina into the tournament's knock-out stages.
2. Argentina 4-3 Brazil - 9 June 2012, New Jersey
Argentina's friendly with Brazil at the MetLife stadium felt like anything but. With six goals already and a brace for himself, Messi stepped up to bag the winner and his hat-trick as the game looked to be heading towards a 3-3 draw. He receives the ball on the touchline just inside Brazil's half, takes it past Marcelo, drives towards the penalty area and unleashes a thunderbolt into the upper echelons of the goal. Vintage Leo.
1. Argentina 4-0 USA - 21 June 2016, Houston
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La Pulga's record-breaking free-kick against USA in the Copa America semi-finals is, for me, the best goal he's scored in an Argentina shirt. Other than being an absolutely unreal set-piece, curling exquisitely into the opposite corner of the goal from around 30 yards out, the goal was also the one that broke Gabriel Batistuta's record as the all-time top scorer for the Argentinian national side.
If it is to be his last ever for Argentina, then it's a fitting finish to an extraordinary career.
Thanks for the memories, Lionel.
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