Remember that one time when Messi retired?

Alexander Sabadash recalls back in June of 2016, when the greatest soccer player in the world, Lionel Messi, announced that he was going to retire from the international scene. While he mentioned he would still play on the club level, this news still came as a shock, given that he was nowhere near retiring age.

Perhaps it was his frustration at not winning a trophy for the Argentinian national team. Maybe the pressure from the Argentinian government and its people finally got to him. Perhaps it had something to do with his public distaste for the Argentine Football Association at the time. But whatever it was, it sent shockwaves throughout the footballing world – for a brief period.

A few months after that announcement, Messi found his name on the Argentinian football team's lineup courtesy of Edgardo Bauza, the team's new coach. Messi once again took to the press and seemingly contradicted himself and basically told everyone he wasn't retired. It was confusing at first, but then again, everyone would have very much preferred a star that bright to keep on shining.

What about you? Do you remember Messi's retirement from international football? What were your thoughts back then? Feel free to share them with Alexander Sabadash in the comments section below.