Lionel Messi back in Argentina squad after reversing retirement decision

• • Barcelona playmaker returns for games against Uruguay and Venezuela 
•  ‘I don’t want to cause any damage,’ he says after talks with Edgardo Bauza

Lionel Messi said of his decision to return to the Argentina squad: ‘We need to fix many things in Argentinian football, but I prefer to do this from inside and not criticise from outside.’ Photograph: Martin Rickett/PA

Lionel Messi has been named in Argentina’s squad for their World Cup qualifiers hours after reversing his decision to retire from international football.

The Barcelona playmaker announced he loves Argentina “too much” to walk away from the national team, having announced his international career was over following their penalty shootout loss to Chile in the Copa América final in June.

Following talks with the new Argentina coach, Edgardo Bauza, Messi’s name was included in the squad to face Uruguay and Venezuela next month.

Messi, Argentina’s captain and record goalscorer with 55, said in a statement reproduced by the Argentinian newspaper La Nación: “I see there are many problems in Argentinian football and I don’t intend to create another one. I don’t want to cause any damage, I’ve always tried to do just the opposite, to help all that I can.

“We need to fix many things in Argentinian football, but I prefer to do this from inside and not criticise from outside.”

Messi said he was quitting international football after missing a penalty in the Copa América final shoot-out in New Jersey. That would have left Messi – one of the most decorated players in history at club level with Barcelona – having never won a major trophy with Argentina.

As well as June’s defeat to Chile, the world player of the year also tasted defeat in the 2007 and 2015 Copa América finals, as well as in the World Cup final in 2014.

He added: “Many things went through my head the day of the last final and I seriously thought of leaving, but I love this country and this shirt too much. I’m grateful to all the people who wanted me to continue playing with Argentina, hopefully we can give them something to cheer about soon.”

Argentina face Uruguay at home on 1 September and Venezuela away on 6 September.

Welcome Messi

Credit: Kiddo :)

From bald to blonde - How Neymar has changed over the years

At just 24 years old, Neymar has already enjoyed a bright career. Having been seen as a world class talent from a young age, the Brazilian has enjoyed immense success at both club and international level. Here, Goal takes a look at how the Barcelona and Brazil hero has changed over the years.

At the age of just 13 the attacker was already doing television interviews.

He has been mixing with greatness from a very young age, even being embraced by footballing icon Diego Maradona

Baby faced and thin, Neymar burst into the Santos first team in 2009.

In his first season, Santos reached the Campeonato Paulista final, only to suffer a 4-2 defeat to Corinthians, with Neymar coming up against Brazil icon Ronaldo.

His personal style soon started to change, as he became as flashy off the field as he is on it.

In 2010, he made his debut for the Selecao, scoring after 28 minutes in a win over the United States.

Then came the famous Mohawk hairstyle.

He continued to shine in the national team, looking right at home alongside the more experienced stars.

He impressed at the 2011 Copa America too, scoring two against Ecuador, though his side crashed out at the quarter-final stage.

That year ended in disappointment, however, with Santos losing in the Club World Cup final to Barcelona.

The hairstyles grew more flamboyant as the international acclaim grew - he won the Puskas Award for 2011.

Cool, stylish and talented, his hairstyle became a bit of a trademark after a while.

By the time the 2014 World Cup came around, Neymar was seen as the man to lead his country to glory.

Even during the World Cup he was changing his hairstyle.

And a year later, lining up against France in a friendly, he made another slight alteration to it.

Come the Copa America in Chile, it was not much different.

And as the 2015-16 campaign kicked off, there was nothing surprising in his look, until...

He went back to his original shaved head look in September 2015.

Then in November, as his hair grew back a bit, he brought out the hairband.

The lack of a Mohawk did not hinder him at all, as he found out in November when he was named as a finalist for the Ballon d'Or.

His hair was looking fairly normal but cool come the awards ceremony.

He kept it fairly simple as Barca returned to action after the winter break.

Even off the pitch he continued to look flashy - a real trendsetter.

Then after a while he opted for the standard swept over look that is rather popular among his generation.

But then he decided to mix it up a bit slightly.

After a while, though, he went back to the simple look.

He did not covet a lot of attention through his hair as he buckled down for the Olympics in Rio, a competition Brazil had never won before.

After scoring the winning penalty in the Olympics final, gold medalist Neymar quickly turned blonde, just like his Barca team-mate Lionel Messi.

Dedicated to Kiddo.. :) 

Barcelona 6-2 Real Betis: Suarez and Messi shine in easy win

The former Liverpool man netted three while the Argentine grabbed two for the reigning champions as they got the new campaign off to a perfect start
Credit: Goal.com

Celebrating Hattrick 

Barcelona began the defence of their La Liga title in ominous fashion on Saturday, with Lionel Messi and hat-trick hero Luis Suarez starring in a 6-2 demolition of Real Betis at Camp Nou.

Suarez and Messi netted 66 league goals between them last term and began the new campaign as they meant to go on, leading from the front and causing havoc as the Betis defence struggled to cope.

Barca's star duo were without Neymar due to his involvement in the Olympics, but Arda Turan continued his renaissance in the Brazilian's absence by opening the scoring – his third goal in two games after a brace against Sevilla in the Supercopa de Espana on Wednesday.

Ruben Castro's bullet of a free-kick restored parity briefly, but a quick-fire double from Messi and Suarez just before the break effectively killed off Betis' chances.

Messi supplied Suarez with his next early in the second half before then blasting in another of his own from distance.

Suarez completed his treble with a delightful free-kick eight minutes from time, as new Betis coach Gus Poyet was given a harsh lesson in his first game in charge of the Andalusians, despite Castro's late second.

Injured Barca captain Andres Iniesta and Messi were finally presented with last season's Liga trophy before kick-off, and those celebrations were followed by further jubilation just six minutes in as the hosts broke the deadlock.

Messi's deep cross picked out the run of Jordi Alba and the left-back teed up Arda, who stabbed home from close range with the outside of his right foot.

That joy was short-lived, though, as Betis drew level 15 minutes later thanks to a ferocious 20-yard Castro free-kick which found the top-right corner.

Classy assist by Roberto

New Jersey Same Messi

Barca piled on the pressure in response and almost restored their lead in the 29th minute, only for the crossbar to deny Messi from 12 yards.

Messi found his range eight minutes before the break, however, lashing a fine strike beyond the helpless Antonio Adan from 25 yards.

And Adan was beaten again just a few moments later – Suarez meeting Sergi Roberto's cut-back with an exquisite first-time finish into the far corner.

Barca increased their cushion 11 minutes into the second half, with Messi leading a counter-attack and then squaring across goal to give Suarez an easy finish after linking cleverly with Arda.

Messi then did it all by himself a minute later, skipping past a tame challenge before thrashing a blistering strike into the bottom-right corner from 30 yards.

Suarez emphatically completed his hat-trick with a stunning free-kick from 25 yards in the 82nd minute and, although Castro netted a late consolation for Betis, Barca secured a remarkable opening-day triumph, laying down a clear marker for likely title rivals Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

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