Whatever the correct terminology, Argentina fans received a much-needed boost on Friday when Lionel Messi confirmed he would be available for selection. Lionel Messi has been named in Argentina’s World Cup qualifiers squad, less than two months after retiring from international football.
From questioning whether he actually did retire, to making comparisons with serial comeback king Shahid Afridi, the social network was buzzing after Friday’s bombshell.
The captain, 29, had apparently hung up his boots following June’s Copa America defeat to neighbouring Chile, but whatever new coach Edgardo Bauza said to him during their meeting this week certainly hit the spot as he reversed that decision. Is it technically an international retirement if the player in question does not miss a single game or even a training session?
And as always Twitter did not take long to react to the news, making a curious parallel between La Pulga and legendary Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi as well as dreaming of World Cup success in 2018.
Argentina play qualifiers against Uruguay and Venezeula at the beginning of September. Messi is named in new coach Edgardo Bauza’s squad alongside Manchester City trio Sergio Aguero, Pablo Zabaleta and Nicolas Otamendi, Manchester United pair Sergio Romero and Marcos Rojo and Ramiro Funes Mori of Everton. Tottenham’s Erik Lamela made it seven Premier League players in total, with Messi’s Barcelona team-mate Javier Mascherano also among the 27-man squad.
Check out the tweets below…
Sean DiSesa (@SeanDiSesa):
If you leave and come back before any games have been played, did you really retire in the first place? #Messi #dramaqueen
Dr.Buttercup (@Stuprous_doctor):
Messi does a Shahid Afridi.
Who would have thought
Ankur Singh (@iAnkurSingh):
Looking at so many people comparing him with Afridi, Messi may soon announce his retirement again.
Boring (@AcheLadki):
I don’t know anything about football.
I don’t watch cricket.
But I will tweet Messi-Afridi jokes.
Am I cool ?
Parth MN (@parthpunter):
Messi to return to Argentina squad, say reports. Becomes d only player to be in d league of Cristiano Ronaldo n Shahid Afridi at d same time
Dan Tully (@FinallyTully):
Messi and Paulo Dybala at the 2018 World Cup have the potential to win the competition
AWenger (@mihirchheda13):
And as expected, Messi returns to Argentina!
The lad got a tad emotional after that loss! But there was no way that he wasn’t coming back!
Hunts With Hand Gun (@NjabsTheBaptist):
I hope Messi makes it to another final
And many more…