He’s back! How Twitter reacted to Lionel Messi’s Argentina return

Football fans were rejoicing on micro-blogging website Twitter after Barcelona star Lionel Messi announced on Friday that he was reversing his decision to retire from international football because his love for the “country and this shirt is too great”.

Updated on: Aug 13, 2016, 10:55:03 IST

Hindustan Times | By Prerna Madan, New Delhi

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Football fans rejoiced on micro-blogging website Twitter after Barcelona star Lionel Messi announced on Friday that he was reversing his decision to retire from international football because his love for the “country and this shirt is too great”.

Argentina midfielder Lionel Messi (10) carries the ball during the second half of Argentina's match against Venezuela in Copa America quarterfinal at Gillette Stadium, in US. (Reuters Photo)

Fans’ pleas have finally been heard, months after Messi announced his retirement following Argentina’s second consecutive Copa America final loss to Chile in June this year. Messi has lost four major finals in the striped blue and white jersey, including the 2014 World Cup final to Germany in Brazil.

An emotional Messi, who had missed a penalty in the New Jersey final, had said after the crushing defeat in June: “I’ve done all I can, I’ve been in four finals and it hurts not to be a champion.”

Here’s how Tweeple reacted:

Most were just ecstatic...

Fortunately, it isn’t just Messi’s hair that changed this year. Now, everyone’s hoping there’s a hair colour reversal on the cards too:

FC Barcelona's Lionel Messi looks at the ball during a training session at the Sports Centre in Sant Joan Despi, Spain. (AP Photo)

And of course, Cristiano Ronaldo vs Messi rivalry ignites again.

Gonzalo Higuain’s absence from the Argentina squad list didn’t go unnoticed either

For some though, history repeated itself as Messi’s comeback was compared with Pakistan cricketer Shahid Afridi’s, who did after all follow the same trajectory.

The five-time Fifa Ballon D’or winner was reportedly coaxed back from retirement by newly-appointed Argentina coach Edgardo Bauza who was spotted in Barcelona for a meeting with the team captain on Thursday.

Read | Messi, don’t go: Maradona, Argentina president, fans urge Leo to play on

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Prerna Madan
Prerna Madan leads the explainers and immersives team at Hindustan Times, bringing more than eight years of editorial experience across India's three largest English-language newsrooms — Hindustan Times, The Times of India and The Indian Express. Her career spans the full range of modern news journalism: digital-first production, print news desks covering metro, national, and front-page, and editorial decision-making at the planning and commissioning stage. From managing coverage of Assembly elections and the Union Budget to steering the reporting, editing and production of in-depth reporting into the Delhi-NCR’s pressing issues, Prerna has honed journalistic storytelling that spans genres, topics and formats. Running through her current work is a facility for complexity — translating consequential, difficult material in the fields of policy, science, environment and politics into rigorous, accessible journalism that sets out to answer two critical questions: why it matters, and what happens now. Prerna holds a degree in English Literature from the University of Delhi and a postgraduate diploma from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication.Read More

Stay updated with the latest sports news, including latest headlines and updates from the Durand Cup Final Live. Catch all the action from tennis Grand Slam tournaments, follow your favourite football teams and players with the latest match results, and get the latest on international hockey tournaments and series.