So, it is over. Lionel Messi has bowed out of yet another World Cup without being able to lift the trophy by the end of it. To be fair, however, Argentina didn’t have the team to go that far and achieve that much.
On top of that, Jorge Sampaoli’s weird selection policy meant that Argentina couldn’t use their most talented players when it was necessary. Everything, in the end, played against the runners-up of last World Cup.
From the very beginning, Argentina were a disaster waiting to happen. Their qualification campaign was terrible and they almost missed out on the World Cup… but then Leo Messi stepped in and ensured that his team played in the main competition.
After that, the first match against Iceland was a sign of things to come as Argentina’s attack was shut down by the Icelanders. Against Croatia in the second game, they were completely schooled by Modric and co.
And then in the final match of the group stage, they looked like a team without cohesion that somehow managed to reach the second round – thanks to a goal from Messi and Rojo each.
Many felt that an inspired Argentina could have stopped the juggernaut that France is, but it wasn’t to be as a 19-year-old Mbappe ruined the party of the Albiceleste. And now, it is perhaps time for Messi to consider his future with the national team.