5 Reasons Lionel Messi Should Retire From Argentina After World Cup 2018

5. Stay Fit For His Club

When he was just a young boy, Messi was diagnosed with growth hormone deficiency and required special treatment in order to help his body develop. In the early years of his time at Barcelona, he was quite prone to injuries, and despite being an exemplary athlete, Messi has never been known for his physique or endurance.

While his Portuguese counterpart, Cristiano Ronaldo, takes drastic measures to maintain astonishing levels of fitness and sculpt his body into something resembling a Greek god, Messi isn't as tall, strong, or athletic. He's still got the talent, vision, and dribbling skills of his younger years, but time has taken its toll on the Argentinian, and as players get into their thirties, they need to start making compromises to cope with their gradual loss of pace and endurance.

At club level, Messi is still contributing enormously to Barcelona's domestic success. He scored 45 goals in all competitions for the Spanish side last season, which is an incredible achievement but a far cry from the 73 strike tally he accumulated back in the 2011-12 season. He's still an outstanding player with so much to offer, but it might be time for him to put the focus fully on his club career and give himself a bit of a rest during international breaks and tournaments.