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Messi Retires - the end of an era

Punchanello

Punchanello

Rotation Player
Joined
Jun 23, 2026
Replies
320
www.theguardian.com

Argentina’s Lionel Messi retires from international football: ‘This hurts me a lot’

Lionel Messi has confirmed he is retiring from international football with immediate effect, seven weeks after Argentina were beaten by Spain in the World Cup final
www.theguardian.com www.theguardian.com

Arguably, he leads a very short list of GOATs. All the answers to the question about where exactly he sits on that list at club and international level are in. It's end of an era. Not just because he has retired (with Ronaldo not far off either) but because there's no immediately obvious heir apparent (for Argentina or the world). The game has changed and even as he was tearing up the summer, he felt like a throwback to something that football had already moved beyond. The talismanic 10. He just hadn't read the script and was so good he could not only buck that trend but thrive despite of it.

I remember watching his debut in October 2004. The hype was already there but it took me, and apparently a lot of Argentinians a long time to believe he was the real deal in the albiceleste. Shows what we know :LOL:
 
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GOAT LEGEND of the Modern era no doubt about it as far as I'm concerned.
Amazing to watch for such a little fella and that’s what made it even better.
His vision/reading of the game, touch, sudden turn/jink - acceleration and his shooting be it soft or firm was on point.
Shall miss a player as such and happy Argentina got their Maradona 2nd coming of Messi.
 
Not trying to stir the pot, because he is up there as the best ever player of the modern game (and will go down as one of the all-time greats)

Just trying to bring some debate, as everyone seems to conveniently ignore the fact he was on a PED that is banned by fifa and most sporting organisations around the world.

Yes, he was a child and it was medically prescribed so he could use an exemption due to it being therapeutic, but you still have to wonder what sort of player he would've become without being on HGH at that crucial age of a boys development

Would he even have reached 5 foot tall?
 
yes sure all and good to bring that up TSS - will always be that "what if" question that will never be clearly answered so what the heck shrugs shoulders doesn't matter now to me.
 
TheSecretScout said:
Not trying to stir the pot, because he is up there as the best ever player of the modern game (and will go down as one of the all-time greats)

Just trying to bring some debate, as everyone seems to conveniently ignore the fact he was on a PED that is banned by fifa and most sporting organisations around the world.

Yes, he was a child and it was medically prescribed so he could use an exemption due to it being therapeutic, but you still have to wonder what sort of player he would've become without being on HGH at that crucial age of a boys development

Would he even have reached 5 foot tall?
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He's not much taller than his father so I don't know that he got some performance enhancing benefit beyond what the condition took away. I don't know the answer, though.

I guess an important factor here is that this was out in the open from day one. Barca and his family jumped through the hoops. There were never any whispers or rumours. It wasn't a narrative reverse engineered because he was found doping.
 
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I'll say something a bit controversial. It's been wonderful, but I'm relieved too.

When I watch Australia on the world stage or our players overseas, it's mostly pure joy. There aren't the same expectations, and they almost always do us proud and very often achieve more than most people expect. For an Argentina fan, following the NT and Messi is pure anxiety and the unbearable weight of history, mythology and expectation. It's almost too much. He can leave the game knowing he did it all and that the creeping sense that Argentina were no longer at the big table dispelled.

The second reason is that while not winning as much, historically Argentina have produced better sides from a sporting and aesthetic perspective without the weight of a cosmically destined 10. More Menotti than Bilardo. More of a team unit built around values than the Generalissimo and his band of die-hard foot soldiers. I look forward to seeing that again.
 
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TheSecretScout said:
Not trying to stir the pot, because he is up there as the best ever player of the modern game (and will go down as one of the all-time greats)

Just trying to bring some debate, as everyone seems to conveniently ignore the fact he was on a PED that is banned by fifa and most sporting organisations around the world.

Yes, he was a child and it was medically prescribed so he could use an exemption due to it being therapeutic, but you still have to wonder what sort of player he would've become without being on HGH at that crucial age of a boys development

Would he even have reached 5 foot tall?
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I understand what you are saying, but I don't think it matters. It's not like the HGH made him into a 2 metre goliath who was a faster sprinter than Usain Bolt, could leap like a high jumper and had muscle/twitch fibre development that allowed him to strike a ball at 130 km/h. Ultimately he was a small/regular sized man who happened to be an unbelievable footballer.
 
Another often-overlooked fact is that Messi never came with unnecessary baggage. No affairs or quiet settlements after night club incidents. No training ground bust-ups or stand-offs with coaches. Would be club rivals stood down or transferred elsewhere. He obviously enjoys his wealth but he has remained grounded. When he does speak it's with authenticity. A professional in every sense of the word.

He absolutely copped it leading up to 2016. Yet his retirement announcement back then wasn't a fairly well deserved "fuck you!". It was heartbreak. He was saying "I'm sorry, I couldn't make it happen. I truly believe in this moment it's better if you move on without me".
 
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You have just expressed the many qualities I have admired about him as well with all the $ and media coverage etc he is a humble really decent human and family man.
Never gloated, never over reacted just an out and out good person and with all that pressure especially for the NT and the people.
The ghost of Diego hanging over his head you can’t just not admire his approach to everything.
Why I have always backed him for he plays as such as well - not greedy, plays team mates in - no wonder all the fellow players around him luv him so much.
 
LFC said:
The ghost of Diego hanging over his head you can’t just not admire his approach to everything.
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There's something in that. Diego carried the "mad genius" stereotype. There's this kind of ableist attitude that leeway should be given to men who behave poorly, because they are otherwise exceptional in some way. The brilliant autistic idiot savant.

There's been speculation for years that Messi may in fact be autistic. Whether he is or he isn't, I think he smashed the mad genius stereotype into pieces. No quarter given, none asked. He never used his status or admiration for him to excuse anything, on or off the pitch.
 
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zimbos05 said:
Petulant person.
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Not really.

Passion and high stakes bring out the competitor in almost everyone at that level of football. When you are operating under that kind of intense microscope, emotional reactions are bound to happen. ...

Throughout his career, teammates, coaches, and opponents have almost universally described Messi as humble, quiet, and respectful. Quiet a stark contrast to the flashier or more provocative personalities often found at the top level of the game. .

I'm looking at you Cristiano. . 🤣
 
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zimbos05 said:
Phenomenal player. Petulant person.
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Yer nah
Punchanello said:
There's something in that. Diego carried the "mad genius" stereotype. There's this kind of ableist attitude that leeway should be given to men who behave poorly, because they are otherwise exceptional in some way. The brilliant autistic idiot savant.

There's been speculation for years that Messi may in fact be autistic. Whether he is or he isn't, I think he smashed the mad genius stereotype into pieces. No quarter given, none asked. He never used his status or admiration for him to excuse anything, on or off the pitch.
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no argument from me - my Diego comment was regards to the "overall" pressure layed upon Messi to deliver for the nation that did take sometime regards to the big trophy WC.
With all the press and expectations from supporters every single game would be hanging in your mind 24/7.
Amazing mental strength to reach the top with all put on his shoulders.
No one is perfect and zimbos's petulant child comment may ring true for some - whatever desecration I would consider acceptable under the circumstances whereas others have/do behave far worse.
Considering he is respected that much confirms any questionable behaviour is hardly worth putting him over the coals.
 
LFC said:
Yer nah
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According to Data Factory Leo Messi played 780 first team games for Barcelona over 17 seasons and got 77 bookings plus one sending off in the Spanish Super Cup final against Athletic Bilbao.

For a player who played that many times for Barca and was constantly fouled, averaging less than five yellow cards a season certainly reinforces his reputation for keeping his composure on the pitch.

What makes his low booking count even more remarkable is how rarely he retaliated when the heavy challenges flew in, which anyone watching him play back then, would know they did....

Most players taking that kind of punishment would rack up more than a card or two for frustration every season, but he just got back up and kept playing.
 
Football us life said:
According to Data Factory Leo Messi played 780 first team games for Barcelona over 17 seasons and got 77 bookings plus one sending off in the Spanish Super Cup final against Athletic Bilbao.

For a player who played that many times for Barca and was constantly fouled, averaging less than five yellow cards a season certainly reinforces his reputation for keeping his composure on the pitch.

What makes his low booking count even more remarkable is how rarely he retaliated when the heavy challenges flew in, which anyone watching him play back then, would know they did....

Most players taking that kind of punishment would rack up more than a card or two for frustration every season, but he just got back up and kept playing.
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spot on - being carved up/ganged up on every single game - marking him out all those games yet he delivered with feck all cards good round up FUL.
The Barca days against Pulyal/Ramos/Pique no softy defenders for eg. Ramos was one of the dirtiest defenders on the park, I like hard play when needed but its great seeing them getting owned as well.
That stomp tackle early in the WC people carry on about being protected, yer seen worse that wasn't given a Red seen softer given.
Swings and roundabouts.
 
LFC said:
spot on - being carved up/ganged up on every single game - marking him out all those games yet he delivered with feck all cards good round up FUL.
The Barca days against Pulyal/Ramos/Pique no softy defenders for eg. Ramos was one of the dirtiest defenders on the park, I like hard play when needed but its great seeing them getting owned as well.
That stomp tackle early in the WC people carry on about being protected, yer seen worse that wasn't given a Red seen softer given.
Swings and roundabouts.
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There was handful of high-profile, high-tension moments playing for Argentina that maybe got amplified heavily by the media and social platforms, which could be argued contrasted with his otherwise quiet image.

But when you're playing and especially captaining a country with the footballing stature of Argentina you're carrying an immense weight....

Occasional boil-overs is part of the course!
 
Football us life said:
Not really.

Passion and high stakes bring out the competitor in almost everyone at that level of football. When you are operating under that kind of intense microscope, emotional reactions are bound to happen. ...

Throughout his career, teammates, coaches, and opponents have almost universally described Messi as humble, quiet, and respectful. Quiet a stark contrast to the flashier or more provocative personalities often found at the top level of the game. .

I'm looking at you Cristiano. . 🤣
Click to expand...
Nah. That's too lazy an excuse. Other players can behave with dignity and grace under the same pressure, so I don't buy that argument. Plus, his behaviour at this world cup tipped the scales for me.

You also literally make an argument for one player by saying, "it's the pressure of the game", then go on to accuse another player. Where is his excuse for the pressure of the game?
 
zimbos05 said:
Nah. That's too lazy an excuse. Other players can behave with dignity and grace under the same pressure, so I don't buy that argument. Plus, his behaviour at this world cup tipped the scales for me.
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I think that occasionally some people do like to impose their version of history on the rest of us. Sometimes they'll do this with good intentions in order to broaden the debate on a particular subject. And sometimes, well perhaps they just want to be a little bit controversial.....

And while Argentinian football has thrown up the odd 'cheeky chappy' over the years I'm not really convinced that the little fella is one of them!
 
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Football us life said:
I think that occasionally some people do like to impose their version of history onnthe rest of us. Sometimes they'll do this with good intentions in order to broaden the debate on a particular subject. And sometimes, well perhaps they just want to be a little bit controversial.....

And while Argentinian football has thrown up the odd 'cheeky chappy' over the years Im not really convinced that the little fella is one of them!
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He's not. You could ask 100 football fans about their first, second and third impressions of Messi and I don't think petulant would come up once. He did, however, learn to impose himself as he has matured.

I think I said at the time of the England game my social media feed blew up with two equally biased narratives. Argentina filthing their way to a win aided and abetted by the referees and another equally compelling one with all the selective video angles and edits to prove it - England kicking the living shit out of Messi in particular.

Prolonged success provokes envy and social media feeds the beast because it pays.
 
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