Messi returns to international football

Lionel Messi, Barcelona superstar, has rescinded his retirement to international football for the “love” of the Argentine nation.

Messi announced his retirement after his side failed to win the Copa America, with the five-time Ballon d’Or winner missing a penalty in the final against Chile.

It was the fourth major final Argentina had lost in nine years, and the 29-year-old decided enough was enough.

“It’s been four finals, I tried,” he said after the Copa America final. “It was the thing I wanted the most, but I couldn’t get it so I think it’s over.”

However, he said in a statement on Friday that he wished to continue playing for his country as he preferred “to help from within”.

“A lot of things went through my mind on the night of the final and I gave serious thought to quitting, but my love for my country and this shirt is too great,” he said.

“I see there are lots of problems in Argentine football and I do not want to create another. I do not want to cause any harm, I have always tried to do the opposite and help wherever I could.

“We have to fix a lot of things in Argentine football, but I’d rather do that from the inside and not criticising from the outside.”

The return was prompted by a change of national team coach, with Tata Martino resigning following the Copa America exit, and Edgardo Bauza taking his place.

Bauza travelled all the way to Barcelona to convince Messi and Barca team-mate Javier Mascherano to return to international duty, and it appears to have worked.