There is a possible ray of hope for Lionel Messi fans around the globe after his shock exit from International Football following Argentina’s loss to Chile in the final of the Copa America Centenario 2016. According to the reports of La Nacion, Messi’s retirement won’t be long-lived; he is on the course of a possible comeback in the striped blue jersey in the month of November.
Argentina will return to competitive football in October. They are scheduled to play Uruguay and Venezuela in September. It is learnt that Messi will skip those matches along with a couple of other matches in October. He is likely to make a comeback in the match against Brazil on 10 November or in the following game on 15 November when they host Colombia.
Also read: An open letter to Leo Messi - Don't you quit this way, My Champion
As per the reports, it is learnt that an ex-teammate of Messi who played alongside Messi in three consecutive World Cups (2006, 2010 and 2014) stated,” He is going to return, and he has Russia 2018 as an obsession.” The name of his former team-mate was not revealed but Maxi Rodriguez and Javier Mascherano are the only two players to have played alongside him in the three previous World Cups.
Argentina was on the losing side of a major tournament for the third year on a trot and Messi, having reached four finals in major tournaments, failed to lead his team to the trophy. Argentina lost to Chile in the final match of the Copa America Centenario via a penalty shoot-out, with Messi missing from the spot. Moments after the match, he announced his retirement from International football saying that he was done with the national team.
Also read: Pele urges Messi not to quit Argentina
It was heard that Argentine legend Diego Maradona has “urged” Lionel Messi to don the national colours once again. He was quoted,”Messi has to stay in the national team. He will go to Russia in form to be world champion.
“He has to rely more on boys who can help take the team forward and less on those who say they have to go. Those who are saying he should quit are doing it so that we won’t see what a disaster Argentine football has become”, he added.
The next FIFA World Cup will be hosted by Russia in 2018. Messi will be 31 then, and would probably be his last shot at Football’s greatest spectacle. Argentina would definitely want him back in the team and end their 23-year trophy drought.
