How Messi's Decade of Dominance Almost Never Happened Lionel Messi's retirement from international football sparked a mix of emotions, but one thing is undeniable – his decade long reign as Argentina's greatest player was almost cut short by his own doubts.
In June 2016, at the age of 29, Messi announced that he had given everything and was done with the national team.
This declaration came on the heels of another Copa America final loss, a trend that had become all too familiar for the Argentine icon.