# Lionel Messi’s Legacy With Argentina
Lionel Messi’s career with Argentina has been shaped by extraordinary success, difficult setbacks and constant comparisons with Diego Maradona. As Messi prepares to play his final match for the national team against Benin on October 6, his story offers a chance to reflect on how he moved beyond the “next Maradona” label and built a legacy of his own.
Messi first made his mark on the international stage at the 2005 FIFA Under-20 World Cup. From his early days with Argentina, fans and commentators measured his achievements against those of Maradona, the country’s most iconic soccer figure.
For years, the comparison carried a heavy expectation: Messi was not simply asked to become a great player, but to deliver the same sense of national pride and joy Maradona had inspired.
## From National Team Struggles to Redemption
Messi enjoyed remarkable success with Barcelona, but his early years with Argentina were more complicated. After the team lost consecutive Copa América finals in 2015 and 2016, Messi announced his retirement from international soccer. He later returned, encouraged by the support of his country.
The turning point came in 2021, when Argentina won the Copa América. The triumph ended a long wait for a major senior international trophy and began a defining period for Messi and the national team.
A year later, Messi led Argentina to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He scored seven goals, was named the tournament’s best player and lifted the trophy that had eluded him. Argentina went on to win another Copa América in 2024, defeating Colombia in the final.
The team came close to extending that remarkable run at the 2026 World Cup, finishing as runner-up to Spain. Together, those achievements transformed the story of Messi’s Argentina career—from one dominated by disappointment to one defined by major international honors.
## Why Diego Maradona Meant So Much to Argentina
The comparison between Messi and Maradona was never only about goals, trophies or technical skill. Maradona’s place in Argentine history was tied to the country’s politics and national identity.
Argentina emerged from a military dictatorship that ruled from 1976 to 1983, a period marked by repression and the deaths and disappearances of thousands of people. The country returned to democracy after the dictatorship fell, and the national mood remained deeply connected to questions of identity and pride.
Maradona’s performances at the 1986 World Cup became part of that story. In the quarterfinal against England, he scored the controversial “Hand of God” goal and then produced what became known as the “Goal of the Century.” The match carried significance beyond soccer, particularly in the context of the recent Falklands War.
Maradona was seen as more than a footballer. He was a national hero whose personality and achievements resonated with fans in Argentina and around the world. His impact also extended to Napoli, where he helped the club win the first two Serie A titles in its history.
That cultural weight helps explain why Messi faced such a demanding standard. He was being compared not only with one of the greatest players ever, but also with a symbol of a particular moment in Argentina’s history.
## How Messi Built a Different Legacy
Messi and Maradona shared a connection through Argentina, but their public personas and careers were distinct. Maradona was famously charismatic and outspoken. Messi, by contrast, has generally kept a lower profile, with his life appearing closely centered on soccer.
That difference affected how the public judged Messi. When Argentina fell short, criticism often focused on his results with the national team, despite his success at club level. The pressure eased as the trophies arrived, particularly after the 2022 World Cup victory.
Their relationship also included moments of mutual admiration. Maradona watched Messi make his World Cup debut in 2006 and later coached him at the 2010 tournament. Argentina’s run ended in a 4–0 quarterfinal defeat to Germany, and Maradona’s time as coach came to an end soon afterward.
Messi’s farewell to Argentina is also an opportunity to acknowledge a shared experience in their club careers: both players left a team they loved without the goodbye they might have wanted. Messi’s departure from Barcelona followed his stated desire to stay, while Maradona’s exit from Napoli also came without a proper farewell to supporters.
## Messi Was Never Simply the “Next Maradona”
The debate over whether Messi or Maradona was the greater player may continue for generations. Their careers unfolded in different eras, and their influence on Argentina took different forms.
What is clear is that Messi did not need to become another Maradona. He won major honors with Argentina on his own terms, ending the long wait for international success and creating a defining chapter in the country’s soccer history.
As Messi prepares to take the field for his final Argentina match, his legacy stands on its own: a world-class career, a historic run of trophies and a lasting connection with the national team he represented for more than two decades.