The legend Lionel Messi, captain of the Argentine national football team, is haunted by the 'ghost of memories' from 2016 in America, after losing the Copa America final to Chile, a match that ended goalless, going to penalty kicks, and 'The Flea' missed his spot kick. Messi, who had surpassed the 100 international caps milestone at the time, was devastated and told journalists after the heartbreak final: 'For me, it's over with the national team. I did everything I could, I played in four finals, and it hurts not to be a champion.' Messi turned 29 in June 2016, and was regarded as one of the best players of all time, having won the Ballon d'Or five times at that point and led Barcelona to Champions League glory the previous year, for the fourth time he lifted that trophy, but his club success found no equivalent with the Argentine national team, as he suffered the bitterness of three defeats in major finals. The first came against Brazil in the 2007 Copa America final, and between that loss and the 2014 final, Argentina exited the World Cup twice in the quarter-finals, and also left the 2011 Copa America hosted on home soil in the quarter-finals against Uruguay. Messi led Argentina to the 2014 World Cup final, but the journey ended with a loss to Germany at the Maracanã stadium, then the penalty shootout loss to hosts Chile in the following year's Copa America final added to his suffering. 'The Flea' headed to the centenary edition of the Copa America in 2016 in the United States, determined to finally win a major title with his country, which reached the final after five wins in five matches, scoring 18 goals, but Chile stood in his way and increased his heartbreak, which translated into tears in front of cameras and an announcement of retirement from international football. Diego Maradona, the football legend, was among the first to urge Messi to reverse his decision, telling La Nación: 'He should stay because he still has many years to play.' Argentines held their breath, and after six weeks, Messi changed his mind, stating: 'Many things crossed my mind the night of the final, and I seriously thought about retiring, but my love for my country and this shirt is much greater than that.' The second half of Messi's international career could not have been more different from what preceded it: the 2018 World Cup ended with a round of 16 exit to later champions France, but the arrival of Lionel Scaloni as coach afterwards led to a revival of Argentine football. The loss to hosts Brazil in the 2019 Copa America semi-final was the start of a new phase, before Argentina returned to Brazil two years later for another edition of the continental tournament. This time, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the 'Albiceleste' beat the hosts 1-0 in the final with a goal from Ángel Di María, winning their first major title in 28 years, while Messi had turned 34. Then came global glory in Qatar in 2022, when Messi led his country to the World Cup final, then to victory over France on penalties, thus crowning his legendary career, saying then: 'I obviously want to end my career with this achievement, and I could not ask for more.' But he kept running, and Scaloni's team continued winning, adding another title in the 2024 Copa America, despite Messi leaving injured in the final against Colombia in Miami. And he began the current World Cup, the sixth in Messi's career, as if it were a tribute tour and a last dance on World Cup pitches, but he clearly showed, even at 39, that he still has plenty to offer, after inspiring his country to a comeback and victory over England in the semi-final, and enters Sunday's final against Spain with a chance to win the Golden Boot of the tournament, with the possibility of winning a second consecutive World Cup and a fourth title with his national team, in an incredible redemption story after the tears of 2016.