Lionel Messi is about to play in his third World Cup final for Argentina, and he could be set to surpass the legacy of the legendary Diego Maradona in the process. He has the opportunity to do what Maradona couldn’t: win a second World Cup for La Albiceleste, the national team he has become synonymous with.

However, the magician’s international career could so easily have been so different. Not only could he have represented a different country, but he also could never have won a single major honour for his nation.

After losing the World Cup final in 2014 and the ensuing 2015 and 2016 Copa America finals, Messi announced his retirement from international football. However, after quickly realising that this decision was abrupt and unnecessary given how much of his career he had left in front of him, the playmaker opted to return to international action, and what a decision it was.

Messi’s Career with Argentina

Brett Davis / IMAGN Images via Reuters

Returning to the fold for the 2018 World Cup, Messi wasn’t able to end his international suffering at the first attempt. Argentina crashed out of the tournament in the last 16, losing an enthralling clash against France 4-3 in Kazan.

A year later, he and his country suffered the same fate at the 2019 Copa America, losing to Brazil in the semi-finals. However, this pain didn’t continue for much longer.

In 2021, Messi delivered the first trophy to Argentina in his international career. He got his hands on the Copa America, playing a key role in the process, scoring four goals and providing five assists throughout the tournament.

A year later, the fairytale story was capped off with the ultimate prize: a World Cup. Messi lifted the iconic trophy in Qatar, carrying his nation through some turbulent early matches to ultimately enact revenge on France for 2018.

Had Messi opted to represent another country he was eligible for, he might have enjoyed success far sooner than he did, although it certainly wouldn’t have been as romantic. Spain won three international tournaments in a row between 2008 and 2012, claiming two Euros and a World Cup – a period that coincided with Messi’s early days at the highest level.

Messi moved from Argentina to Spain at the age of 13, and this alone presented him with the opportunity to declare for La Roja. The Spain manager during the European nation’s period of dominance, Vicente de Bosque, revealed that the Spanish FA tried to convince Messi to play for them before he declared for Argentina.

“The Federation made every effort to get Messi to play for Spain,” Del Bosque told a Spanish radio station.

“Lionel refused because he loves his country. His arrival would have been for the best. Messi is Messi – there is only one. It would have been a dream to coach him.”

Messi Only Had Eyes for Argentina

Image credit: REUTERS/Amanda Perobelli

While Messi has always been coy about his Spanish links and Spanish citizenship, he did open up about the possibility of representing the country in a book about his Argentina career, titled Messi, The Patriot.

“I was asked informally if I wanted to play for Spain, but I always said that I wanted to play for my national team because I love Argentina and these are the only colours I want to wear,” he said.

“I was always an avid fan of the national team. I watched the games on television because I could never go to the grounds and watch them as a fan.”

Former Barcelona teammate and good friend Cesc Fabregas once chimed in on the discourse, claiming that the attacking midfielder made the right decision, even if he’d have loved to have played alongside him for Spain.

“It would have been phenomenal if Leo had played for Spain,” Fabregas said.

“We would have won more titles, but he always felt very Argentine, and I think it was the perfect decision to play for his country.”

Spain weren’t the only country Messi could have played for. He was also eligible to represent Italy through his great-grandfather, who emanated from the Southern European nation. This family link would have qualified Messi for an Italian passport.

The 39-year-old’s great-grandfather left Italy for Argentina in the late 1800s, so it was always unlikely that football’s greatest ever player would’ve turned out for the Azzurri, given how convoluted this connection is.

Unlike with Spain, there were never any talks between the Italian FA and Messi over the player representing Italy.

Arsenal have blown Premier League rivals Liverpool away as they push to complete a major statement summer signing for Mikel Arteta.

It has been a quiet first month of the transfer window for Arsenal, but now the Premier League champions appear to be working overtime to bring new players in ahead of the new season as they look to retain their league title, as well as attempting to go one step further in the Champions League by getting to the final and winning it.

Piero Hincapie has already completed a permanent move to the Emirates as expected, and he has been joined in north London by free-agent goalkeeper Illan Meslier, who will currently act as a back-up option to David Raya and Kepa Arrizabalaga between the sticks.

The Gunners are working on bigger-money signings now, with a deal worth around £34m now agreed with Club Brugge to sign winger Christos Tzolis.

GIVEMESPORT sources have also revealed that Arsenal are set to launch their first bid to sign Aston Villa and England star Morgan Rogers, who will be returning home following the third-place playoff match against France on Saturday night.

A separate report has claimed that the offer could be worth £105m, with the 23-year-old confirmed as the club’s top transfer target in attack.

Arsenal are looking at other attacking options too, though.

Arsenal Lead Premier League Race to Sign Julian Alvarez

Rodrigo Valle via Reuters

It has been an eventful summer for the Argentina international, who will represent his nation in the 2026 World Cup final against Spain on Sunday night in New Jersey.

The world-class 26-year-old has also made it clear he wants to explore opportunities away from Atletico Madrid this summer, having attracted bids from both Barcelona and Real Madrid for his services, with the latter seeing a £130m bid rejected last month.

Atletico continue to claim that their star attacker is going nowhere, but Football Insider claim that Arsenal are ahead of Liverpool in the race to land their ‘dream’ signing, with Barcelona expected to make a fresh bid for his services following the conclusion of the World Cup.

Alvarez has been quite quiet in the World Cup, but he scored 20 goals and assisted 10 more in 52 appearances in all competitions for Atleti last term, catapulting him to the top of many top European clubs’ transfer wishlist.

Arsenal Deal Another Transfer Blow to Liverpool

via Reuters

Liverpool have been dealt another transfer blow with a report suggesting that their top target to replace Mohamed Salah actually prefers a move to London instead.

Because of that, the France international would prefer to join Arsenal instead of Liverpool if Paris Saint-Germain sanction his sale, although the north Londoners are currently focusing on Rogers as their top left-sided attacking target.

Should a move for the Englishman fail, then it could be a straight head-to-head battle between Arsenal and Liverpool for Barcola, who could become one of the most in-demand forwards in Europe if PSG give the green light for a summer exit with contract talks currently stalling.

Tottenham Hotspur have already completed major transfer coups this summer in snapping up Mateus Fernandes and Sandro Tonali, but the club’s ‘dream’ target has proven too ambitious, after Chelsea agreed a deal.

A dismal 17th-place finish for Spurs last time out has not hampered progress in the window, beating European rivals to the signings of Fernandes and Tonali, as well as former Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke.

Roberto De Zerbi has bolstered at the back and in the centre of the park, but is yet to add firepower. The Italian is known to be a big fan of Dominic Solanke but is also in the market for added creativity with one Premier League star said to be a very attractive option to the new Spurs boss.

Tottenham Miss Out on ‘Dream’ Transfer Target

Speaking on the Last Word On Spurs podcast, the Times journalist Tom Allnutt claimed that Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers has been outlined as the dream purchase before the summer window slams shut.

On Thursday, he said: “Morgan Rogers is a name that keeps coming up for Tottenham. He would be a dream signing, but there are other clubs interested. It would be very difficult to do, but maybe one to watch.”

Rogers had been linked with several high-profile Premier League sides this summer, with Arsenal ready to make an opening offer for the midfielder, as revealed by GIVEMESPORT this week, despite Aston Villa being adamant that the 23-year-old is not for sale.

Now, Chelsea have hijacked a potential Arsenal move for the 23-year-old after agreeing a £117m deal with Aston Villa for the attacker.

The Villans star will jet back to the UK following the bronze match on Saturday evening and is set to undergo a medical on Monday.

Tottenham Focusing on Junior Kroupi and Savinho

via Reuters

Now Rogers is confirmed to be on his way to Chelsea, Tottenham can concentrate on securing two of their other top attacking targets in this window.

Spurs are said to have reached a verbal agreement with Manchester City to sign winger Savinho, 12 months after they first attempted to bring him to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with the player keen on the move.

Even if the north London outfit do land Savinho, they still also hold an interest in buying standout Bournemouth forward Eli Junior Kroupi, as their huge summer spend shows no signs of slowing down.