Revisit Lionel Messi's NJ history ahead of World Cup final at MetLife

After Argentina’s semifinal win over England, Lionel Messi is headed back to MetLife Stadium — the place where he experienced one of the lowest points of his career.

Messi nearly quit on the Argentina national team in 2016, when he missed a penalty kick in the Copa América Centenario Final en route to a crushing loss.

Thankfully, he changed his mind. Now, he has a chance to top off his World Cup career with a second straight title at a venue that gave him fits a decade ago.

Here’s a recap of Messi’s appearances in New Jersey, including that hallowed day in 2016:

Inter Miami vs. Red Bulls: July 19, 2025

Messi has made two appearances for Inter Miami at Sports Illustrated Stadium versus the New York Red Bulls. In the second match last summer, he totaled two goals and two assists to lift Inter Miami to a dominant 5-1 win in front of 25,219 strong.

At the time, it was the sixth time in the last seven games that Messi had netted two goals in a match.

Argentina Copa América group match: June 25, 2024

Eight years after the lowest point in Messi’s career, he got another crack at winning a Copa América match at MetLife in 2024. This time, it was just a group contest, but it held the same weight to Messi.

He got his redemption in front of over 80,000. Against the same Chile squad it faced in 2016, Argentina prevailed, 1-0, as Lautaro Martinez scored the winning goal in the 88th minute. Messi failed to score, plagued by a sore throat and fever beforehand and muscle discomfort during the match, but it didn’t matter.

Inter Miami vs. Red Bulls: Aug. 26, 2023

Messi’s first appearance at Sports Illustrated Stadium went just as well as the second. Messi didn’t start the match but entered to raucous cheers after coming in as a substitute in the 60th minute. Fans could be heard cheering “We want Messi!” during his time on the bench.

He promptly scored his first regular-season MLS goal in the 89th minute to give Inter Miami a 2-0 lead that held until full time. 

Argentina International friendly vs. Jamaica: Sept. 27, 2022

In a tune-up before his eventual World Cup title in 2022, Messi participated in an international friendly versus Jamaica at then-Red Bull Arena in front of a sellout crowd.

He came on as a second-half substitute again and netted two goals in Argentina's 3-0 win. The scores were half of his four across two warmup matches that month.

Argentina Copa América Centenario Final: June 26, 2016

Here’s the big one. Messi graced MetLife Stadium’s field for the Copa América Centenario Final against Chile in 2016. After 120 minutes, the game remained scoreless, sending it to penalties.

Messi missed his penalty kick high and wide, setting the stage for Chile to win. What came afterward shocked the world. Messi, feeling the weight of losing three straight finals — also including the 2014 World Cup Final and 2015 Copa América Final — told reporters postgame that he was done playing with the Argentina national team.

"My thinking right now, and thinking about it in the locker room, I'm done playing with the national team,” Messi said.

“It's been four finals, and I was not able to win. I tried everything possible. It hurts me more than anyone, but it is evident that this is not for me,” he added. “I want more than anyone to win a title with the national team, but unfortunately, it did not happen."

Messi eventually decided against retirement, and what a great decision that was.

Argentina International friendly vs. Brazil: June 9, 2012

Perhaps Messi’s best game in New Jersey was his first one, despite it being an unofficial match. In 2012, he played an international friendly against Brazil in front of 81,994 at MetLife, a record crowd for the venue at the time. The fans got everything they wanted, as Messi finished with a hat trick.

His third goal came in the 84th minute, which gave Argentina a late 4-3 lead that stood as the final score.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Revisit Lionel Messi's NJ history ahead of World Cup final at MetLife