The phenomenally-talented Lionel Messi, with a valid claim to a place in the pantheon of all-time soccer greats, has called it day at the young age of 29. The Argentine team’s disappointments with its hunt for a major trophy sees him throwing in the towel. For all his sublime gifts as a footballer — ball control, magical dribbling, pinpoint free kicks and curvy and athletic runs underlining an ability to get past a whole pack of defenders like Diego Maradona — Messi has been a success for Barcelona but not for Argentina, which is a pity as few showed such fierce commitment to the national team.
Three blank finals in three years in the World Cup and Copa Americas proved the last straw. He must live with this one flaw in his record, that will come up every time in any argument about individual greatness in a team game. His penalty in the shootout in Copa America Centenario Sunday night in New Jersey went way over the crossbar in another ego-shattering moment, in a career that began at age 13. He has been world player of the year five times and won more trophies than a whole house could accommodate, earned so much money that Spain’s taxmen came snooping, but helped Argentina win only an Olympic gold in competition limited to under-23 players. Maradona had told Pele that he felt Messi lacked the personality to be a leader. May be that one flaw will deny him the ultimate accolades in the beautiful game.
