Lionel Messi says he finally has ‘peace of mind’ after achieving his dream by winning the Copa America with Argentina over the summer to break trophy duck, having lost THREE finals at major international tournaments
- Lionel Messi won the first trophy of his international with Argentina back in July
- Argentina lifted the Copa America after losing three consecutive finals before
- By winning silverware for his country, Messi says he now has ‘peace of mind’
Lionel Messi said he now has ‘peace of mind’ after winning the Copa America with Argentina over the summer.
Despite a legendary club career, Messi went into the summer having not won a major international tournament after previously suffering three consecutive defeats at the final hurdle.
Argentina lost 1-0 to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil before suffering penalty shootout defeats to Chile at both the 2015 and 2016 Copa America tournaments.
Lionel Messi won his first trophy for Argentina by beating Brazil to win the Copa America
But his international curse was finally put to bed when Angel Di Maria’s goal sealed a 1-0 victory over Brazil, meaning Argentina lifted the Copa America trophy for the first time in 28 years.
Messi told ESPN over the recent international break: ‘I have peace of mind of having achieved the dream that has been denied to me so many times.
‘It was like a dream, a spectacular moment. I couldn’t believe it had happened. I enjoy watching the images now more than at the time as I was in a daze. I didn’t quite understand what was happening.’
Messi (C) said he has ‘peace of mind’ after winning a trophy while representing his country
The 34-year-old added that he felt the media had treated Argentina as ‘failures’ following their previous final defeats.
He said: ‘A part of the media treated us as failures, saying that we didn’t feel the [responsibility] of wearing the jersey, that we shouldn’t be in the national team.
‘We tried to be champions before, we were the first ones to want to. It’s very difficult to win a World Cup or a Copa America.
‘At the time they didn’t value what we did, they only put emphasis on the fact that we didn’t achieve the aim.
Argentina previously lost three consecutive finals including the 2014 World Cup to Germany
‘The important thing is to feel satisfied that you have given your all. Luckily, the last time [final] was different.’
Messi has had an eventful summer since after he joined Paris Saint-Germain with Barcelona unable to sign him to a new contract.
Over the recent international break, Argentina beat Venezuela 3-1 in a World Cup qualifying match before their rematch with Brazil was called off after health officials invaded the pitch over a row surrounding Covid-19 rules.
Messi will be hoping for more success with his country at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, with the Argentina legend turning 35-years-old before the tournament gets underway with opportunities running out.
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