Messi's last chance for national glory slips away in Kazan

NIZHNY NOVGOROD (Russia): Lionel Messi's last chance to add a major international identify to a glittering array of personal achievements and trophies at club stage nearly definitely disappeared with Argentina's removal from the World Cup on Saturday.

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In the week of his 31st birthday, Messi was again a largely anonymous determine as they lost Four-3 to France in a thrilling last-16 match in Kazan.

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It was a fourth World Cup for Messi, who secured a place in tournament trivialities with a superb goal in opposition to Nigeria in the staff phase that made him the first player to score as a teen, in his 20s and 30s at the global showpiece tournament.

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But that "thigh of God" goal proved the only spotlight for a man considered by many the greatest to have played the sport.

A protracted move from deep was brought down off his thigh, deftly managed before the ball touched the turf and finished off with a right-foot shot across the goalkeeper - any other of the breath-taking objectives that have marked out a stellar profession.

It is also the last sure image of Messi in the light blue and white stripes of Argentina because he is not going to play for his nation again, having already been coaxed out of retirement after lacking a penalty in the Copa America final defeat two years in the past.

Despite profitable 128 caps, representing his nation has seemed more and more a torturous ordeal in contrast to the enjoyment Messi exudes in Barcelona colours.

Even coming off any other strange season with Barca, it was by no means positive Messi would have the ability to replicate that shape with the national team and Russia may have barely noticed his presence.

Messi's document with Argentina is four finals in eight primary tournament appearances however by no means a winners' medal.

Three instances he was at the dropping facet in the final of the South American championship and he captained Argentina to the last World Cup final the place they lost to Germany in Rio de Janeiro.

Arguments over whether or not Messi or his recent rival Cristiano Ronaldo are the greatest player the sport has ever seen will inevitably now carry up his loss of success at national team stage, particularly since Ronaldo received the European Championship with Portugal two years in the past.

Even debate over his status as Argentina's best possible is also swayed by Diego Maradona's role in nearly single-handedly profitable the 1986 World Cup for his nation in Mexico.