Messi Returns to MetLife for World Cup Final, a Decade After Retiring
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- Lionel Messi announced his international retirement at MetLife Stadium in 2016 after missing a penalty in the Copa America final shootout loss to Chile, saying at the time 'this is not for me.'
- Messi reversed his retirement swiftly and has since won a 2022 World Cup and two Copa Americas with Argentina, climbing from 6 career World Cup goals entering 2022 to 21 today.
- Sunday's final at MetLife pits Messi and Argentina against Spain, with a win making them the first back-to-back World Cup champions since Brazil in 1970.
- At 39, Messi sits tied with Kylian Mbappe at 8 goals in the golden boot race despite a series of missed penalties at this tournament, and delivered two assists in Argentina's 2-1 comeback semifinal win over England after they led 1-0 in the 85th minute.
- Spain coach Luis de la Fuente recalled subbing off the defender man-marking a teenage Messi in a Copa del Rey match — only for Messi to score four goals after — and England defender Dan Burn said Messi 'still pops up with two assists' when kept quiet for most of Wednesday's semifinal.
Why it matters: Messi stands on the threshold of joining Brazil's 1970 squad as the first back-to-back World Cup champions, while also extending his tournament goal tally to 21 from 6 entering 2022 — the starkest arc from rock-bottom international retirement to potential two-time champion the sport has seen, all on the same field.
