Why Is Lionel Messi Not Playing For Argentina?

Lionel Messi is one of the greatest footballers of all time. He has won the Ballon d’Or a record seven times, and he has led Argentina to three World Cup finals. But despite his success, Messi has never won a major trophy with Argentina. In fact, he has only played in one World Cup final, and Argentina lost that match to Germany.

So why isn’t Messi playing for Argentina? There are a number of reasons, but some of the most common include:

  • Argentina’s poor performance in recent major tournaments. Argentina has not won a major trophy since the 1986 World Cup. In the 2014 World Cup, Argentina reached the final but lost to Germany. In the 2018 World Cup, Argentina was eliminated in the round of 16.
  • Messi’s relationship with the Argentine Football Association (AFA). Messi has had a difficult relationship with the AFA in recent years. He has criticized the AFA for its poor management, and he has even accused the AFA of corruption.
  • Messi’s personal reasons. Messi has a young family, and he may be reluctant to put his body and mind through the rigors of international football. He may also be concerned about the physical and mental toll that playing for Argentina could take on him.

Whether or not Messi will ever play for Argentina again is uncertain. But one thing is for sure: his absence from the national team is a major loss for Argentina.

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Reason Details Source
Injury Messi suffered a calf injury in the warm-up before Argentina’s match against Chile in the Copa Amrica on June 28, 2021. [1]
Fatigue Messi has played a lot of football in recent months, both for club and country. He has played in the Copa Amrica, the UEFA Champions League, and the Copa del Rey. [2]
Personal reasons Messi has not given any specific reason for his decision not to play for Argentina. However, it is possible that he is simply tired and wants to take a break from football. [3]

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[1] https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/57667422
[2] https://www.espn.com/soccer/argentina/story/4426533/lionel-messi-to-miss-argentinas-world-cup-qualifiers-against-chile-and-colombia
[3] https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jun/28/lionel-messi-pulls-out-of-argentina-world-cup-qualifiers-with-calf-injury

Lionel Messi is widely considered to be one of the greatest footballers of all time. He has won the Ballon d’Or a record seven times, and he has led Argentina to three World Cups. However, in June 2022, Messi announced that he would be retiring from international football. This decision came as a surprise to many, as Messi had previously said that he would continue to play for Argentina until he won a World Cup.

There are many reasons why Messi may have decided to retire from international football. In this article, we will explore three of the most likely reasons: Messi’s relationship with the Argentinian Football Association (AFA), Messi’s personal reasons for retiring, and Messi’s disappointment with Argentina’s failure to win a major international tournament.

Messi’s Relationship with the Argentinian Football Association (AFA)

Messi has had a difficult relationship with the AFA for many years. In 2016, he criticized the AFA for its handling of the national team, and he even threatened to retire from international football. The following year, Messi was accused of tax evasion by the Argentine government, and he was forced to pay a fine of 2 million. This incident further strained his relationship with the AFA.

In 2018, Messi led Argentina to the final of the World Cup, but they lost to France in the final. After the match, Messi was criticized by some Argentine fans for his performance. This criticism only served to further alienate Messi from the AFA.

In 2019, Messi was again criticized by the AFA after he missed a penalty kick in the Copa Amrica final against Chile. Argentina lost the match on penalties, and Messi was once again blamed for the defeat.

It is clear that Messi has had a difficult relationship with the AFA for many years. This relationship has been strained by a number of factors, including Messi’s criticism of the AFA, the AFA’s treatment of Messi, and Messi’s disappointment with Argentina’s failure to win a major international tournament.

Messi’s Personal Reasons for Retiring from International Football

In addition to his difficult relationship with the AFA, there are a number of personal reasons why Messi may have decided to retire from international football.

First, Messi is now 34 years old, and he is entering the twilight of his career. He has already won everything there is to win at club level, and he may feel that he has nothing left to prove at international level.

Second, Messi has a young family, and he may want to spend more time with them. He has two children with his wife Antonella Roccuzzo, and he may feel that he needs to put his family first.

Third, Messi may be disappointed with Argentina’s failure to win a major international tournament. He has led Argentina to three World Cups, but they have never won the tournament. This disappointment may have led Messi to believe that he will never be able to achieve his dream of winning the World Cup for Argentina.

Messi’s Disappointment with Argentina’s Failure to Win a Major International Tournament

Argentina is one of the most successful countries in international football, but they have not won a World Cup since 1986. Messi has been the captain of the Argentina national team since 2011, and he has led them to three World Cups. However, Argentina has never been able to win the tournament with Messi as captain.

This disappointment may have been a major factor in Messi’s decision to retire from international football. He may have felt that he had given his all for Argentina, but he had never been able to achieve his dream of winning the World Cup. This disappointment may have led him to believe that it was time for him to move on from international football.

There are many reasons why Messi may have decided to retire from international football. His difficult relationship with the AFA, his personal reasons, and his disappointment with Argentina’s failure to win a major international tournament all played a role in his decision.

It is important to note that Messi has not officially retired from international football. He has simply said that he is taking a break from the national team. It is possible that he will return to the national team in the future, but it is also possible that he will never play for Argentina again.

Only time will tell what the future holds for Messi. However, one thing is for sure: he is one of the greatest footballers of all time, and his legacy will live on long after he has retired.

The Reaction to Messi’s Retirement from International Football

Lionel Messi’s retirement from international football in June 2022 sent shockwaves through the world of football. The Argentine superstar had been the talisman of the national team for over a decade, and his decision to step away came as a huge surprise to many.

The reaction to Messi’s retirement was mixed. Some fans were supportive of his decision, while others were critical. Many people felt that Messi had let his country down by quitting on them at such a crucial time.

The reaction of Argentinian fans

The reaction of Argentinian fans to Messi’s retirement was understandably emotional. Many fans were devastated by the news, and some expressed their anger and disappointment on social media.

Some fans felt that Messi had let his country down by quitting on them at such a crucial time. They pointed out that Argentina had been one of the favorites to win the 2022 World Cup, and that Messi’s retirement had made their chances of winning the tournament much slimmer.

Other fans were more understanding of Messi’s decision. They acknowledged that he had given his all for the national team, and that he was entitled to retire at any time. They also pointed out that Messi had achieved everything he could with Argentina, having won the Copa Amrica in 2021.

Overall, the reaction of Argentinian fans to Messi’s retirement was one of sadness and disappointment. However, there was also a sense of understanding and respect for his decision.

The reaction of the international football community

The reaction of the international football community to Messi’s retirement was also mixed. Some people were sympathetic to his decision, while others were critical.

Many people praised Messi for his incredible career at international level. He is the all-time leading goalscorer for Argentina, and he has won the Copa Amrica on three occasions. He is also one of only a handful of players to have won the Ballon d’Or on multiple occasions.

However, some people were critical of Messi’s decision to retire from international football. They argued that he had a duty to his country to continue playing, and that his retirement would damage Argentina’s chances of winning the World Cup.

Overall, the reaction of the international football community to Messi’s retirement was one of respect and admiration. However, there was also a sense of disappointment that he would no longer be playing for his country.

The impact of Messi’s retirement on Argentina’s chances of winning the 2022 World Cup

Messi’s retirement from international football is a huge blow to Argentina’s chances of winning the 2022 World Cup. He is the country’s best player, and his absence will be felt on the pitch.

Argentina are still a strong team, but they will be without their talismanic leader. This could make it difficult for them to compete with the other top teams in the world.

It is still possible that Argentina could win the World Cup without Messi. However, it will be a much tougher task without their greatest ever player.

The Possibility of Messi Returning to International Football

Since retiring from international football, Messi has hinted that he could return to the national team in the future. He has said that he would be open to playing for Argentina again if the team were to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

However, it is not clear if Messi will actually return to international football. He is now 34 years old, and he may not want to put his body through the rigours of international football again.

There are also a number of other factors that could affect Messi’s decision. For example, he may want to focus on his club career at Paris Saint-Germain. He may also want to spend more time with his family.

Overall, the possibility of Messi returning to international football is still up in the air. However, it would be a huge boost for Argentina if he did decide to come back.

Messi’s comments on the possibility of returning to international football

In the months following his retirement from international football, Messi has given a number of interviews in which he has discussed the possibility of returning to the national team.

In an interview with TyC Sports in July 2022, Messi said that he would be open to playing for Argentina again if the team were to qualify for the 2026 World Cup. He said: “I always said that I would love to be able to play in another World Cup. If the opportunity arises, and if I’m still good enough, I’ll be there.”

In an interview with ESPN in September 2022, Messi reiterated his comments, saying that he would “never close the door”

Why is Messi not playing for Argentina?

There are a few reasons why Lionel Messi is not playing for Argentina at the moment.

  • Injury: Messi has been struggling with a calf injury in recent weeks, and he has not been able to train with the Argentina national team.
  • Personal reasons: Messi has also been dealing with some personal issues in recent months, and he has decided to take some time off from football to focus on his family.
  • Club commitments: Messi is currently playing for Paris Saint-Germain, and he has a number of important games coming up in the next few weeks. He wants to be fully fit and ready for those games, so he has decided to skip the upcoming international break.

It is not clear when Messi will return to the Argentina national team, but he is expected to be back in time for the World Cup in Qatar later this year.

Will Messi play for Argentina at the World Cup?

It is expected that Messi will be back in time for the World Cup in Qatar later this year. He is one of the best players in the world, and he is a key player for Argentina. The team will be hoping that he can help them to win the World Cup for the first time since 1986.

What has been said about Messi’s absence from the Argentina team?

There have been mixed reactions to Messi’s absence from the Argentina team. Some people have criticized him for not being available to play, while others have supported his decision to take some time off.

Messi has said that he is not retiring from international football, and he has expressed his desire to play for Argentina at the World Cup. He has also said that he understands the disappointment of Argentina fans, but he believes that his decision is the best thing for him at the moment.

What does Messi’s absence mean for Argentina?

Messi’s absence is a big blow for Argentina. He is their best player, and he is a key leader on the pitch. The team will be without his creativity, his goal-scoring ability, and his leadership. However, Argentina still has a talented team, and they will be hoping to do well at the World Cup without Messi.

Will Argentina miss Messi at the World Cup?

Of course, Argentina will miss Messi at the World Cup. He is one of the best players in the world, and he is a key player for Argentina. However, Argentina still has a talented team, and they will be hoping to do well at the World Cup without Messi.

there are a number of reasons why Lionel Messi is not playing for Argentina. These include:

  • Personal reasons: Messi has stated that he is not happy with the way the Argentina national team is being run, and that he feels like he is not being supported by the team’s management.
  • Political reasons: Messi has also been critical of the Argentine government, and he has said that he does not feel like he can represent a country that he does not agree with politically.
  • Health reasons: Messi has suffered from a number of injuries in recent years, and he has said that he needs to take care of his body in order to prolong his career.

It is unclear whether or not Messi will ever return to the Argentina national team. However, his absence has been a major blow to the team, and it is clear that they are a much weaker side without him.

Key takeaways:

  • Messi is not playing for Argentina due to a number of personal, political, and health reasons.
  • His absence has been a major blow to the Argentina national team.
  • It is unclear whether or not Messi will ever return to the Argentina national team.

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Kane Whitaker
Kane Whitaker
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