For Messi winning the international trophy has always been his primary target. The trophy alone has eluded him for good numbers of time, lost in the finals to Brazil in 2007, and again lost in the finals back to back to Chile in 2015 and 2016. Including the one he suffered in the hands of Germans in 2014 world Cup final.
Those were the most difficult times for a player who is considered to be the greatest of all time. A player who has won all the individual awards and all club honors to his name, was yet to win the international honor. 'Winning the international honor with Argentina rather than all these individual awards was my biggest target and happiness' said Messi after he was crown as the most valuable player of the tournament, Copa America 2021.
Looking critically so far in 2021 has shown that the Barcelona and Argentina great has performed remarkably so far in terms of goal scoring prowess and goal contribution.
Last season, he finished as top scorer for Barcelona, winning the pichichi trophy and Copa Del Rey.
His exploit in the just concluded Copa America tournament had seen him finished as the tournament top scorer and the most valuable player. Contributed in 9 out of 12 goals Argentina scored in the competition.
He has finally lifted the international trophy that had eluded him for so long and he is on course for a record 7th Ballon D'or award. Messi is out of this world.