It is a fact that Messi did not retire because his performance on the field had suddenly deteriorated or his physical fitness had suffered beyond repair, it is mainly because of his failure to achieve much expected notable success for his country in all the years he played and captained the national team. Of course he did earn a medal in Beijing Olympics and one in 2005 under-23, World Championship after Argentina beat Nigeria 2-1 and also is the highest goal scorer (55 goals) in the history of Argentina.
However Messi who is now 29, will continue to play for FC Barcelona, the club that shaped him by taking care of him medically from the age of 13 and built his career professionally, where he has achieved over the years all the highest possible laurels that can be earned by a football player.
Messi has been a sensation with the football game right from time he was a kid in his home state of Rosario, where he played football along with his elder brothers Rodrigo and Matias, strongly encouraged by their grandmother who always took time to take the boys for practice. He was considered as ‘little’ genius of football in Rosario and later in Argentina.
Lionel Messi’s skills have been adequately analysed both as a person and a player by the La Capital’s Journalist Mariano Berenznicki as follows “Painfully humble, solidarity with his team, loyalty, attacking with the ball and dynamite possessed by few others. His power to accelerate is impressi ve. And he does all this in a unique way. Stardom is not drowning him nor has it changed him”. When asked if he is new Maradona, he said “He is the true Messi”.
His unexpected announcement of retirement from International participation for his country has sadden and shocked millions of his fans across the world, whom he mesmerized with his magical skills with the ball and extraordinary goal scoring ability as well as assisting other teammates to score goals.
Finally his enthusiastic die-hard fans and admirers will be seeing him a lot while playing with FC Barcelona, and as expected there will be many moments of magic on the field with the ball, maybe even breaking some more records that will enthrall them for some more seasons.
