Argentina's national football team returned to a hero's welcome in their homeland on Sunday after a triumphant campaign in the 2021 Copa America. Hundreds of supporters surrounded the team bus carrying La Albiceleste after arriving in Buenos Aires from Rio de Janeiro, with the crowd, as expected, mainly cheering for captain Lionel Messi.
The adulation that Messi is receiving in his home country right now is very much deserved after a long and torturous journey towards that first international title on senior level. He came so close to winning the Copa back in 2007 but lost to arch-rivals Brazil in the final, 3-0.
Messi's long struggle with Argentina
Messi went on to establish himself as one of the greatest football players ever after that finals defeat with his exploits at FC Barcelona, but success with Argentina was still hard to come by. Of course, no one can forget Messi's three-year stretch with Argentina from 2014 to 2016, where La Albiceleste reached the final of a major tournament on three consecutive occasions.
The 2014 FIFA World Cup was meant to be Messi's coronation after most of his rivals tumbled out of the tournament one by one. He scored four goals in the group stages, recording match-winners against Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iran and a double against Nigeria. Messi reached the finals against Germany but was disappointed with his performance as Argentina lost 1-0 in extra time.
Messi had the opportunity to make amends with Copa America in 2015 and 2016, but Argentina failed to clear the final hurdle on both occasions. Chile crushed Messi's dreams with a 4-1 penalty shootout victory in 2015 before beating Argentina again 4-2 in a decider in 2016.
Such was the pain of those back-to-back penalty shootout defeats that Messi announced his retirement from international football after the match, telling reporters, "It is not for me. I tried, I think that is it."
The lure of that coveted international trophy was too hard to resist, though, for Messi as he returned for Argentina's South American qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup. Argentina struggled with its campaign, though, and needed a Messi hat-trick in its final group match on the road against Ecuador to seal a place in the World Cup.
However, Messi's international title drought continued as Argentina lost to eventual champions France in the Round of 16 of the 2018 World Cup. Messi encountered more misery the following year as Argentina suffered a 2-0 defeat to Brazil in the semifinals of the 2019 Copa America.
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Messi makes things right with 2021 Copa performance
Messi entered the 2021 Copa with his football career on the crossroads as his contract with Barca expired, making the Argentine superstar a free agent. Time is ticking on Messi's career, particularly with Argentina with the 2021 Copa and the 2022 World Cup possibly his last tours of duty with La Albiceleste.
Messi played the tournament of his life in Brazil as he single-handedly led Argentina to the 2021 Copa finals. He scored four goals and dished out five assists for Argentina, who faced Brazil in the championship match. Angel Di Maria made sure Messi's performances didn't go to waste as he scored the winner in Argentina's 1-0 victory over Brazil in the final.
As the referee blew the final whistle in that match, Messi immediately broke down in tears as his teammates mobbed him. Messi finally completed the biggest dream of his life, winning his first international title and giving Argentina its first major trophy since 1993.
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