Messi is in which international team

Argentina U Argentina Olympic Team. Aug 7, Sergio Batista. World Cup qualification. International Friendlies. World Cup. World Cup qualification South America. World Cup Ivory Coast. Metatarsal Fracture. Torn muscle bundle. With other national team. Costa Rica.

A fourth loss in a major international tournament final was too much to bear for Lionel Messi. Following Argentina's defeat on penalty kicks to Chile in the Copa America Centenario final on Sunday night, the Barcelona star announced he is retiring from international football:.

Messi was one of two Argentine players to miss his penalty kick, and he was visibly distraught on the pitch after the match, per Vice Sports' Mike Tunison:. Given the emotional toll the loss took on him, Messi may have been speaking prematurely before thinking his decision through. I mean, people say things when they lose. We've all done it. When dust settles, will tonight's words ring true? In , following Argentina's second consecutive loss to Chile in the final of the Copa America tournament, Messi announced he was ending his run with the national team.

The soccer great eventually reversed his decision, but his participation in the World Cup did not bring that elusive title, as hoped.

After Messi scored an early goal in a win over Nigeria that helped his team advance from the group stage, he was largely kept in check by France, his two assists not enough to stave off a defeat that sent Argentina packing.

The following year, after Messi heavily criticized the referees in the wake of a loss to Brazil in the Copa America semifinals, the Argentine captain was slapped with a three-game ban by the South American Football Confederation. He's also won the European Golden Shoe for top scorer six times, two more than his nearest rival, Cristiano Ronaldo. In July , Messi suffered a blow off the soccer field when a Barcelona court found him and his father guilty of three counts of tax fraud.

During a four-day trial, Messi and his father denied breaking the law and claimed they were unaware of any tax illegalities that were committed. However, they were both sentenced to 21 months in prison. Under Spanish law, first offenses under two years are suspended so they did not go to jail, but Messi was ordered to pay a fine of 2 million euros.

His father was required to pay 1. On June 30, , Messi married Antonella Roccuzzo, his longtime girlfriend and the cousin of his best friend and fellow soccer player Lucas Scaglia. Messi and Roccuzzo have three children together: Thiago, born in November , Mateo, born in September and Ciro, born in March Messi met Roccuzzo in their hometown of Rosario when he was 5 years old.

Although famously private off the field, Messi has quietly helped others in need. In , he formed the Leo Messi Foundation to provide opportunities for disadvantaged youths. In early , UNICEF named him a goodwill ambassador, with a focus on fighting for children's rights across the globe. We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us! Subscribe to the Biography newsletter to receive stories about the people who shaped our world and the stories that shaped their lives.