'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Argentina legend Diego Maradona, back in 2016, claimed Lionel Messi staged his retirement from the national team that year. Messi announced retirement from international football after losing a second consecutive Copa America final in 2016.
Maradona believed the whole retirement was staged, telling Radio Station La Red (via Hindustan Times):
“I don’t know whether this was staged to make us understand that he’d lost three finals, but we never lost by big margins. He got annoyed for nothing. He wasn’t to blame for the defeat, others were. So why did he announce his retirement? He spoke too quickly, made everyone hold their breath (on a potential return).”
Following defeat in the 2016 Copa America final to Chile, the legendary forward hung up his boots for La Albiceleste, saying:
“This is the end for me with the national team, it’s not for me. I think it’s best for everyone, for me and for many people who want it. The choice for me is over, it is a decision.”
Messi would eventually go back on his decision to retire from international football and would later say in another statement following his return:
“A lot of things were going through my head the day of the final, and I really thought about stopping, but I love my country.”
Lionel Messi's decision to return to the national team would coincide with a new era of unmatched success for the Argentina football team. Diego Maradona would sadly not live to see that success, as he passed away in November 2020 before he could see his country claim World Cup glory in Qatar two years later.
When Lionel Messi dedicated his eighth Ballon d'Or win to Diego Maradona
Lionel Messi dedicated his most recent Ballon d'Or win to the late Diego Maradona. The win saw the legendary forward claim the prize for the eighth time in his illustrious career on 30 October, which would have been Maradona's 63rd birthday.
The Argentina captain took to the stage after he was announced as the winner of the prize in Paris and said (via GOAL):
"Today I wanted to mention Diego [Maradona]. There’s no better place to wish him happy birthday than here, around many people loving football, as he wanted. Wherever you are, Diego… happy birthday. This [award] also goes to you."
Diego Maradona is one of football's most revered and beloved figures. He scored 34 goals in 91 games for his country and helped them win the FIFA World Cup in 1986. Lionel Messi has matched that achievement, captaining La Albiceleste to their next win in the competition in 2022.
