Before amassing eight Ballon d’Or awards in his trophy cabinet and leading the Argentina national team to ultimate glory, Lionel Andrés Messi had to hit rock bottom.

Behind the legend who now holds every conceivable title in world football lies a defining moment that humanised the myth.

Following the 2026 World Cup final against Spain, Messi wrote a statement announcing his permanent retirement from the Argentina national team at the age of 39.

However, exactly 10 years earlier, the Argentine star had made that very same decision following a defeat that marked his career forever.

Far from signifying the end, that moment of weakness was the beginning of his greatest personal and sporting transformation.

From the collapse in New Jersey to the mixed zone

On 26 June 2016, MetLife Stadium in New Jersey was the scene of a traumatic night.

The Argentina national team lost to Chile in the final of the Copa América Centenario, marking their third consecutive final defeat in just three years, following the painful outcomes of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil and the 2015 Copa América.

The image of the captain, heartbroken after missing his penalty in the decisive shoot-out, was seen around the world: for the first time, the most dominant footballer of his era looked completely shattered.

Minutes later, the shockwave reached the mixed zone. With a vacant stare and a broken voice, his pent-up frustration erupted in front of the cameras: “My time with the national team is over. That’s four finals – it’s just not for me.”

Those words felt like an escape from a decade marked by impatient demands, comparisons with Diego Maradona and disproportionate criticism directed at him personally.

Journalists claimed that Messi performed better at FC Barcelona and that his leadership did not measure up to what the Argentine national team needed.

Managing frustration: The key to rebuilding

That decision to step aside sparked an unprecedented social phenomenon. The threat of losing the Rosario-born star for good unleashed a wave of collective empathy across Argentina.

Under the slogan “Don’t go, Leo”, millions of fans took to the streets and social media, whilst teammates, sporting icons and public figures publicly urged him to reconsider his decision.

Just two months later, after meeting with manager Edgardo Bauza in Spain and discussing the situation with his family, the striker announced his return.

However, the player who returned was not the same one who had decided to close the door...

Messi realised that to achieve success, he had to accept that setbacks are part of the path to greatness.

The reward for never giving up

That change in mindset was crucial in launching his most brilliant spell as a footballer and captain of the Argentina national team.

The definitive turning point came at the 2021 Copa América, when Argentina conquered the Maracanã after beating Brazil.

Freed from the burden of old wounds, the captain began to play with the ease of someone who savours every moment on the pitch.

What followed was an unparalleled dynasty: victory in the Finalissima, the epic triumph at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, back-to-back continental titles in 2024 and the recent run to the final of the 2026 World Cup.

Another nomination for the Ballon d'Or

Now aged 39, the Argentine has finally decided to bring his time with the Argentina national team to a close.

This time, it seems final. He leaves with the peace of mind of someone who has already given his all and achieved everything.

And this latest nomination for the 2026 Ballon d'Or reaffirms his enduring legacy and his place amongst the elite of world football.

Ultimately, Messi has shown the world that sometimes you need to pause, reflect and rebuild yourself in order to come back stronger and win it all.