Lionel Messi’s 2016 international retirement now looks less like the end of an era and more like the start of his most complete one. Ten years ago, Messi walked away from Argentina duty after missing a penalty in the Copa America final shootout defeat to Chile. Argentina had lost a fourth major final in nine years and he sounded completely done.
“For me, the national team is over,” he said at the time. “I’ve done all I can. It hurts not to be a champion.”
That decision did not last, and Argentina will be thankful every day that it didn’t. Messi returned, won two Copa America titles, lifted the 2022 World Cup and has now become the leading scorer in World Cup history.
The latest entry came on Monday night in Dallas, where Messi scored both goals in Argentina’s 2-0 win over Austria to send the holders into the last 32.
It was not a perfect start. Argentina were awarded an early penalty after Stefan Posch fouled Lautaro Martinez, but Messi fired wide from the spot after only eight minutes.
That was his third penalty miss across three separate World Cups, and for a brief moment, it looked like the record-breaking night might become a frustrating one.
It did not last. In the 38th minute, Facundo Medina’s low cross from the left was allowed to run through by Thiago Almada, leaving Messi to sweep a first-time finish beyond Alexander Schlager.
That was his 17th World Cup goal, taking him clear of Miroslav Klose as the outright record holder.
The 18th arrived in stoppage time. Julian Alvarez had an effort saved, but Messi reacted quickest inside the area and squeezed a finish through two Austria defenders from a tight angle.
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Messi leads Golden Boot race
Messi is now the top scorer at the 2026 World Cup with five goals in two matches, following his hat-trick in the opening 3-0 win over Algeria.
He has scored 18 goals in 28 World Cup appearances, with 13 of those coming since he reversed his international retirement. Even more remarkably, 12 have come since he turned 35.
“I’m happy to give the Argentinian people this victory,” Messi said. “Every match is very special and I just try to play and enjoy it when I’m on the pitch.
“It was a really hard match and it’s a good result for us. We were able to qualify, and that was very important because it allows us to have a calmer week and I’m really, really happy for that.”
BBC commentator Steve Bower called it “another immortal Messi moment”, while Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague summed up the problem with trying to keep track of him.
“We don’t have time to create statues for Lionel Messi or deep analysis for him in newspapers. We cannot keep pace,” Balague said on BBC Radio 5 Live.
Argentina now have six points from two Group J games and are already through before facing tournament debutants Jordan in their final group fixture.
Austria remain second after beating Jordan in their opener, but this night belonged to Messi again.
A decade after saying the national team was over, he is still carrying Argentina, still breaking records and still making that retirement feel like a strange footnote from another career.
