India, Sept. 1 -- Lionel Messi has left behind a lasting legacy following his retirement from international football. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner finished his Argentina career with 125 goals, but his impact went far beyond the numbers he produced on the pitch. His journey with the national team was far from straightforward. Messi endured years of disappointment and painful defeats before eventually changing the narrative and establishing himself as one of Argentina's greatest-ever players.

He went on to lead Argentina through their most successful period in recent history, winning multiple Copa America titles, the Finalissima and, most importantly, the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Those triumphs silenced the doubters who had once questione...