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The Economic Times
The Economic Times
National

Lionel Messi retirement: How Argentina’s most painful era became his greatest legacy

Lionel Messi Argentina Jorge Messi World Cup Football Copa América Diego Maradona Qatar

Lionel Messi’s international career has ended without the fairytale finish he might once have imagined. Yet when the 39-year-old looks back at his journey with Argentina, the final defeat to Spain is unlikely to define what he leaves behind.

Messi announced his retirement from international football on Monday, bringing the curtain down on a 21-year journey with the national team. He finishes as Argentina’s record appearance-maker and leading scorer, with 207 matches and 125 goals.

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