Lionel Messi's international career after his initial retirement proved pivotal in solidifying his legacy. He had previously retired from the Argentine national team after a devastating loss in the Copa América Centenario final held in East Rutherford, New Jersey. This defeat marked their third consecutive major final loss, following the 2014 World Cup and the 2015 Copa América. Messi had personally missed a crucial penalty in the shootout against Chile during the Copa América Centenario. This painful experience prompted his hand-written decision to step away from international football. However, he later reversed this decision, choosing to continue representing Argentina. The decade following this attempt to leave saw him redefine his national team story. His subsequent performances and achievements ultimately altered perceptions of his contributions. This period allowed him to overcome previous disappointments. Messi undeniably cemented his place in football history during this post-retirement phase.