Almost exactly eight years ago, Lionel Messi found himself on the brink of a seismic decision. Standing on the pitch of MetLife Stadium, his team having just lost the 2016 Copa America final to Chile on penalties, Messi delivered a stunning announcement: retirement from international football. He declared, “For me, the national team is over. I’ve done all that I can.” At 29, Messi had firmly established himself as the leader of Argentina’s national squad, and the announcement sent shockwaves across the football world.
It wasn't Messi’s first brush with heartbreak. Argentina had suffered agonizing defeats in three consecutive summers, losing the 2014 World Cup final to Germany and the 2015 Copa America final, again to Chile. Yet, this dramatic exit was not to be permanent. By August 2016, Messi reversed his retirement decision, a choice that would lead to a celebrated chapter in his illustrious career. He eventually broke his trophy drought, triumphing in the 2021 Copa America and most recently, the 2022 World Cup.
In what seems like a nod to both Messi's resilience and the passage of time, 2024 sees him as one of just three players on the roster who participated in that fateful 2016 tournament. They are now alongside a new generation, featuring talents such as 26-year-old center back Cristian Romero and 19-year-old prodigy Alejandro Garnacho. But even with these fresh faces, the challenges remain.
In a recent match against Canada, Argentina managed 19 shots but significantly underperformed on their 3.02 expected goals tally. This inefficiency is a critical point of concern that head coach Lionel Scaloni addressed, particularly focusing on the need to curtail their opponents' opportunities. Argentina allowed Canada to take 10 shots on their goal, an area that requires urgent attention. Scaloni emphasized, “The cups that Chile won, the cups that we won … that is in the past. We are living in the present and this team knows that very well. Each match is a different history and we have to face it as it comes. Previous titles don’t change that.”
Defensive solidity was one of the hallmarks of their Copa America and World Cup victories, and the partnership of Romero and Lisandro Martinez has solidified its place as Scaloni’s preferred center-back pairing. Despite their best efforts, however, the Canadian side found spaces and created chances, pressing the need for tactical adjustments.
Julian Alvarez, starting alongside Messi, was quick to make his mark, opening the scoring. Lautaro Martinez added a second goal, thanks to an assist from Alexis Mac Allister. Messi, continuing to defy age and logic, demonstrated his elite-level capabilities with an impressive assist on Lautaro Martinez’s goal. Reflecting on these dynamics, Scaloni remarked, “We have a very particular strategy and game plan and the opponent poses difficulties. What we do is try to adjust, try to avoid damage to our team and we will try to find the spaces, given the opponent, but the opponent will set the tone of its attack and of course, we will be cautious about that and it's valid to do so.”
As Argentina navigates this mix of experience and young promise, the focus remains firmly on the present. Scaloni underscores the importance of this ethos: “I think that it’s very important to have him here. Everyone’s asking about the future, the past but this is the lovely present … The present is very important. What's in the past is in the past and he is enjoying his birthday. We want him to have a good time.”
Argentina's journey, overseen by the steady hand of Scaloni and the enduring magic of Messi, continues to captivate. Their recent performance against Canada, while highlighting areas for improvement, also shows flashes of brilliance. For Argentina, the goal is not just to look back at past glories but to navigate each game with a fresh perspective, acknowledging that every match writes its own history.