Lionel Messi called time on his 11-year senior international career with Argentina on Sunday night following defeat in the final of the Copa America Centenario.The Barcelona superstar leaves the international scene with 113 caps and 55 goals to his career, but unlike his club career there is a distinct feeling of 'what if'.
Here's a look back at eight defining games...
Debut vs Hungary (2005)
After scoring 14 times in 18 internationals for Argentina's Under-20 team, Messi was handed a first-team debut by Jose Pekerman in August 2005, just a couple of months after his 18th birthday.
But, on as a substitute in the second half, it wasn't the dream debut that Messi would have hoped for. He was controversially sent off just two minutes after taking to the pitch for an alleged elbow on Hungarian defender Vilmos Vanczak and was later found by his team-mates in tears in the dressing room after the game.
First Final vs Brazil (2007)
Messi's first major tournament ended in a disappointing quarter-final exit to Germany at the World Cup in 2006, but his first final came in the Copa America just a year later. The competition was held in Venezuela and a long-haired Messi scored twice en-route to the final where Argentina faced fierce rivals Brazil.
He played the full90 minutes in an otherwise experienced Argentina side but was powerless to prevent Brazil claiming an eighth South American title with a convincing3-0 win.
Olympic Gold vs Nigeria (2008)
Unless he performs a dramatic retirement U-turn, which is not entirelyout of the question, the biggest international honour Messi will end his career with is the Olympic gold medal he collected in Beijing in 2008.
Part of anUnder-23 team that contained Sergio Aguero and Angel Di Maria, who scored the only goal in the gold medal match against Nigeria, Messi netted in the group stage win over Ivory Coast and the quarter-final victory over the Dutch.
Hat-trick vs Brazil (2012)
Considering his incredible goalscoring feats kicked off for Barcelona in 2008, Messi's first seniorinternational hat-trick didn't come until 2012 in a friendly against Switzerland. In fact, prior to that game he'd only scored 19 goals in seven years, compared to the 36 he would get in four years from that moment on.
Just four months after that maiden hat-trick, Messi bagged another in an epic 4-3 win over Brazil. For any Argentine to score three against Brazil is a great moment. He only ever scored one other goal against the Selecao.
World Cup Heartbreak vs Germany(2014)
After already owning every honour there is to win at club level and as an individual, World Cup glory in 2014 would have completed Messi's incredible career. He reached the final and was handed the Golden Ball as best player, but a late extra-time winner from Germany's Mario Gotze ensured he wouldn't get to lift the one trophy he really wanted.
It was the third straight World Cup in which Messi's dreams were ended by the Germans. After that aforementioned 2006 last eight exit, Argentina were dumped out by the same opposition in the quarter-final four years later as well.
Copa Heartbreak vs Chile(2015)
Messi's next chance at major international silverware came at the Copa America just 12 months after that narrow loss to Germanyin the Maracana. Chile were on home soil and were looking for their first ever title after impressing in Brazil on the global stage the year before.
There was nothing to separate the sides in 120 tense minutes in Santiago in front of a heavily partisan crowd and a penalty shootout ensued. Messi scored his, but Gonzalo Higuain and Ever Banega both missed, handing Chile a 4-1 win from the spot
Record Goalscorer vs USA (2016)
Despite a slow start to his international career in front of goal, Messi's penultimate game in an Argentina shirt saw him break Gabriel Batistuta's national team record and become the country's all-timeleading scorer with 55 goals to his name.
Having equalled the record in the Copa quarter-final against Venezuela, Messi surpassed the top mark in the semi-final against the United States - a perfect free-kick into the top corner
The End vs Chile (2016)
The game that prompted his earlyinternational retirement,Messi was on the losing side in a major final for the third successive year as Chile once again got the better of Argentina in a Copa America final.
Just as in 2015, there was nothing to separate the two teams in 120 minutes and a penalty shootout was once more required to determine a winner. This time Messi himself missed from thespot, with Lucas Biglia also failing to convert later on to hand Chile the trophy.
To continue the discussion on Twitter follow @jamiespencer155