However, in a statement on Friday, Messi explained that he wanted to continue representing his country as he preferred “to help from within”.
Advertisement
‘We need to fix many things in Argentinian football, but I prefer to do this from inside and not criticise from outside’.
“I do not want to cause any harm, I have always tried to do the opposite and help wherever I could”.
The Barcelona midfielder announced immediately after his country’s penalty shootout loss to Chile in the Copa America final in June that he was calling time on his Argentina career to an end.
Messi was clearly frustrated as Argentina missed yet another chance to win a significant title.
The 29-year-old’s retirement was met with outcry in his homeland while the new Argentina manager, Edgardo Bauza, met with the forward this week to try and persuade him to return to the global scene. His only trophy with Argentina came with the under-23 team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Messi, unhappy with the Argentine FA’s running of the team, planned to speak out after the Copa final but felt he could not after they were beaten.
And an interview with Omnisport, Villa said: “Messi is the best, for me”. And I seriously considered leaving the team.
However, new Argentina boss Edgardo Bauza flew to meet with Messi to try and persuade him to reverse his decision and it paid off. Coach Gerardo Martino also resigned after the Copa America and the nation had trouble sending an under-23 squad for the Olympic tournament in Brazil. Argentina’s youngsters didn’t make past the group stage at the Rio Games.
Argentina’s record goalscorer is widely regarded as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, player of all time.
However, the 29-year-old has now changed his mind and has been named in Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers squad to face Uruguay and Venezuela.
Argentina will take on Uruguay in Mendoza on September 6 before going to Merida five days later to play Venezuela.
Advertisement
Barcelona star Lionel Messi insists he made a U-turn on global retirement due to his love for Argentina.
