Argentina and Barcelona star Lionel Messi announced his retirement from the national team after a fourth final loss in his career. In the latest loss, he missed a penalty against Chile in the Copa America finals, Argentina’s second successive loss to the Chileans.
Lionel Messi: Fact file of the ex-Argentine skipper
“It’s been four finals, I tried. It was the thing I wanted the most, but I couldn’t get it, so I think it’s over,” Messi told reporters after the game. He was also on the losing side at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, losing out to eventual winners Germany.
‘‘When the pressure rises, Messi is first to answer the call,’‘ the now ex-Argentine international tweeted on June 18, the following day in a GIF he said Argentina was two matches away from glory and he would settle for nothing less.
When the pressure rises, Messi is first to answer the call. #Messi16 #FirstNeverFollows pic.twitter.com/uORMmA76tz— Team Messi (@TeamMessi) June 18, 2016
Days later, he decided to quit international football, we present a fact file of Lionel Messi, arguably one of the greatest footballers of this era, with focus on his personal, national and glittering club career with Spanish giants Barcelona.
Personal information
Name: Lionel Andres Messi
Nationality: Argentinian (holds Spanish citizenship)
Date of birth: June 24, 1987 – age 29
Place of birth: Rosario, Argentina
Club: Barcelona (Spain/since 2000)
International appearances: 112 International goals: 55
International debut: August 17, 2005, Hungary 1 Argentina 2
Honours (Club)
UEFA Champions League (4): 2005-06, 2008-09, 2010-11, 2014-15
Club World Cup (3): 2009, 2011, 2015
Spanish Championships – La Liga (8): 2004-05, 2005-06, 2008-09, 2009-10, 2010-11, 2012-13, 2014-15, 2015-16
Spanish Cup (3): 2008-09, 2011-12, 2014-15, 2015-16
Spanish Super Cups (6) 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013
International World Cup: Finalist (2010), Quarter-finalist (2006, 2010), 15 matches, 5 goals
Copa America: Finalist (2015, 2007, 2016), Quarter-finalist (2011), 16 matches, 3 goals
Olympic gold medal (1): 2008
Under-20 World Cup (1): 2005
Individual Honours:
Ballon D’Or (5): 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015
Top scorer in the Spanish league (3): 2009-2010 (34 goals), 2011-2012 (50 goals), 2012-13 (46 goals)
Top scorer in the Champions League (5): 2008-2009 (9 goals), 2009-2010 (8 goals), 2010-2011 (12 goals), 2011-2012 (14 goals), 2014-15 (10 goals)
World Cup Golden Ball (1): Brazil 2014
Olympic player of the tournament (1): 2008
Under-20 World Cup player of the tournament (1): 2005
Top scorer at Under-20 World Cup (1): 2005 (6 goals)