There was once a train of thought that international soccer and the World Cup just weren’t Lionel Messi’s thing. Even the newly crowned all-time top scorer in the history of the tournament believed it himself.

After missing a penalty in the shootout of the 2016 Copa América final, which Argentina lost to Chile, Messi, aged just 29, announced his retirement from the international game. It was the fourth consecutive final he had failed to win with La Albiceleste, who had been defeated by Germany in the World Cup final in Brazil two years earlier.

“For me, the national team is over,” said an emotional Messi. “I’ve done all I can. It hurts not to be a champion. 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. I think this is best for everyone. First of all for me, then for everyone.”

After the dust had settled, his retirement lasted all of two months, if it ever happened at all.

“Many things went through my head the day of the last final and I seriously thought of leaving, but I love this country and this shirt too much,” Messi explained after it was announced he would be playing in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

Messi’s difficult World Cup start

Although the Inter Miami star had won the Golden Ball, given to the best player in the tournament, in 2014, the World Cup had never been particularly kind to him. Argentina were defeated in the quarterfinals in both 2006 and 2010, results many fans viewed as disappointments.

Having lost in the final in Brazil, they never looked less likely to contend than in 2018, when they scraped through the group stage before losing to France in the round of 16.

There was no sign an Argentina World Cup win was on its way, and you would’ve gotten incredibly long odds on Messi becoming the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.

Going into the 2022 World Cup, when Messi was 35 and a half, he had scored only six World Cup goals in 19 appearances, an average of 0.32 per game. Four of those goals had come in 2014, with 2010 yielding the grand total of zero. He managed one apiece in 2006, when he was only 18, and 2018.

In those tournaments, he also recorded five assists, taking his overall goal contributions to 11 in 19 games. Not bad for most players, but not Messi.

Argentina’s rise

The appointment of Lionel Scaloni as head coach, however, completely transformed both Argentina and Messi.

A first major honor in 28 years came in the shape of the Copa América in 2021, the year before a majestic Messi inspired his country to its first World Cup victory since 1986.

In seven games in Qatar, the former Barcelona legend netted seven times, more than in his four previous tournaments combined. He added three more assists, helping him claim another Golden Ball.

More glory followed in La Finalissima and another Copa América in 2024. Now, Messi hopes to help Argentina become the first country since Brazil in 1958 and 1962 to successfully defend the World Cup.

From six goals to 18

He couldn’t have gotten off to a better start, his hat trick in Argentina’s opening win over Algeria followed by a double in the second victory over Austria.

Before turning 35, Messi had scored six goals in 19 World Cup games. In less than four years, he has netted 12 goals in just nine appearances, a scoring rate of 1.33 per game.

The most incredible turnaround from the most incredible player, now officially the World Cup’s all-time leading scorer. Who saw that coming before Qatar?

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