

Lionel Messi announced that he will play on for Argentina, reversing his decision in June to retire from international soccer. The Barcelona forward said he would not play for Argentina again after the team lost to Chile in the final of the Copa America in the United States. However, in a statement on Friday, Messi explained that he wanted to continue representing his country as he preferred “to help from within”.
Messi will be named in new coach Edgardo Bauza’s squad to face Uruguay and Venezuela in 2018 World Cup, South American qualifiers to be held in the first week of September. Messi has lost four major finals with Argentina, three in the last two years including the 2014 World Cup final to Germany in Brazil.
To be continued…#messi #delpotro https://t.co/g25NjVsdsx pic.twitter.com/PRhxtYwPmY
— Miguel Bossio (@MiguelBossio) 12 August 2016
So Messi’s back playing for Argentina. Retirement was short-lived. I’m not complaining though
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) 12 August 2016
As expected:
Lionel Messi says he will continue playing for Argentina’s national team, reversing June international retirement announcement— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) 12 August 2016
Official: Lionel Messi has decided to continue playing for the Argentina national team. As expected. https://t.co/QpwGxYwLq6
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) 12 August 2016
If you missed it… Well, that didn’t take long. Lionel #Messi will continue playing for #Argentina weeks after retirement decision.
— Juliet Bawuah (@julietbawuah) 12 August 2016
Lionel Messi is back for Argentina and Gonzalo Higuaín is left out. Scenes.
— Ben Hayward (@bghayward) 12 August 2016