From retirement to records - another immortal Messi moment

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: From retirement to records - another immortal Messi moment Figure caption, All of Messi's record-breaking 18 World Cup goalsByMichael EmonsBBC Sport journalistPublished2 hours agoIn 2016, Lionel Messi retired from international football. In the aftermath of a defeat by Chile in the Copa America final, in which Messi missed a penalty in the shootout as Argentina lost a fourth major final in nine years, he could not take any more pain. "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. "It is hard to imagine that 10 years later, two days before his 39th birthday, not only would he still be playing for reigning world champions Argentina, but also becoming the World Cup's all-time leading scorer.

The Details

His decision to reverse that international retirement has led to a glorious era of success for Messi and his nation. They have won the past two Copa America tournaments and, in 2022, captain Messi guided them to the World Cup, scoring seven goals - including two in the final - as they won the tournament for the third time, but the first since 1986. On Monday, 40 years to the day since Diego Maradona scored twice in a 2-1 quarter-final win over England, Messi was again rewriting football's record books with both goals in a 2-0 victory against Austria.

It was "another immortal Messi moment" according to commentator Steve Bower. "I enjoy playing and having a good time on the pitch," said Messi. "We enjoy seeing the people like this too, being able to give them this kind of joy.

"'We don't have time to build statues'Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Lionel Messi scored his first World Cup goal at the age of 18 in 2006An eighth-minute penalty miss was not a great start, but that was forgotten about 30 minutes later with a low strike for his 17th World Cup goal, to move him clear of Germany's Miroslav Klose as the outright top scorer in tournament history. The 18th was not too far away either, with him scoring in second-half stoppage time, squeezing the ball past two Austria defenders from a tight angle. "We don't have time to create statues for Lionel Messi or deep analysis for him in newspapers.

What Experts Say

We cannot keep pace," said Spanish football journalist Guillem Balague on Radio 5 Live. That is now 18 goals in 28 World Cup games. You would be foolish to bet against him scoring more, especially with Jordan to come and with Argentina already guaranteed a last-32 place.

Messi is appearing at his sixth World Cup and has scored 13 tournament goals since reversing that decision to retire from international football. Remarkably, 12 of his 18 goals on football's greatest stage have come since he turned 35. Fourteen of those 18 have been struck with his left foot, and four have come from outside the box.

"He is enjoying it and this is the best thing," added Balague. "I have seen him play World Cups where he couldn't last 90 minutes. Here at the end, he was running like anyone else, now he knows his body so well.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.