Jorge Burruchaga: Messi will play for his country again

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Jorge Burruchaga, manager of Argentina's national soccer team, promised that five-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi will play for his country again in the future, reported Goal.com on Wednesday.

"No date is scheduled right now for the return of Messi and he will not be back before the end of the year. But it's impossible that he will not be in the national team again. This is transitory. I'm sure that next year, he will be in the Argentine national team again," said Burruchaga.

In the 128 games he has played for Argentina, Messi has scored a total of 65 goals, the most in the national team's history. His performance and honors achieved in Barcelona have also put him closer to becoming the No.1 soccer player in the world, a title that his compatriot Diego Maradona held before.

Lionel Messi is successful enough as a club soccer player. /VCG Photo

However, before Messi can carry the crown, he still needs to prove himself in international events by bringing his country a heavyweight championship, but so far that road has been a no-go. Led by Messi, Argentina's best performance in the FIFA World Cup was runner-up in Brazil in 2014. Earlier in Russia, they were knocked out in the round of 16 while Messi scored only one goal.

Having endured too much pressure and criticism, Messi chose to leave the national team after the 2018 FIFA World Cup and has been quiet about his future with Argentina, including when he will return or whether he will return, since then.

Messi still needs to lead Argentina to a heavyweight championship before he can match Diego Maradona. /VCG Photo

Lionel Scaloni, interim manager of Argentina recruited some young blood in the latest iteration of the team, which seemed to be the right thing to do because they need new players who will not fear sharing the burden with Messi. Moreover, the team must learn how to play without Messi, a lesson learned many times through past failures.

However, none of the above means that Argentina do not need Messi, especially when the Copa America is happening in 2019. On the other hand, Messi is now 31 years old. He should remain hopeful in the fight for the World Cup title after four years, compared with 33-year-old Cristiano Ronaldo.