The day after his 37th birthday, Lionel Messi will return to MetLife Stadium to face Chile in the Copa America Group A match on Tuesday. This venue is significant as it was the scene of one of his most disappointing moments, where Argentina lost the Copa America final to Chile on penalties eight years ago. Messi missed Argentina's first penalty in the shootout, contributing to their third consecutive final loss following defeats in the 2014 World Cup and the 2015 Copa America.

At the time, the narrative focused on Messi's inability to win with Argentina despite his club success with Barcelona, drawing unfavorable comparisons with Diego Maradona, who had brought glory to Argentina. The pressure led Messi to announce his retirement from international football immediately after the loss, declaring on Argentinian television that he could not win a title with the national team and that it was best for everyone if he stepped down.

However, the public reaction to his retirement was overwhelmingly supportive, with fans and national figures urging him to reconsider. Messi eventually returned to the national team, leading to Argentina's World Cup triumph in 2022, which ended all debates about his legacy and reportedly transformed him personally, according to Gerardo 'Tata' Martino, his former coach.

Now, with Argentina as world champions and favorites to win the Copa America, Messi has the opportunity to complete a remarkable turnaround. Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni, however, is focused on the present, not nostalgia, as they prepare to face Chile again. Argentina began their campaign with a 2-0 win over Canada, while Chile, under new coach Ricardo Gareca, managed only a goalless draw with Peru. Scaloni is considering rotating his squad, possibly resting Angel Di Maria and including Nicolas Otamendi in the defense.