Lionel Messi announced on Friday that he would be available for selection for the Argentina national football team, reversing his decision earlier in the year to retire from international football.
In a statement released on Friday, he said, "I consider there to be a lot of problems in Argentine football and it's not my intention to create another one. There are a lot of issues that need to be resolved in Argentine football but I prefer to help from within and not to criticise from the outside.
Messi added, "A lot of things went through my mind on the night of the final and I gave serious thought to quitting but my love for my country and this shirt is too great."
The 29-year-old Barcelona player, widely considered to be among the greatest footballers in the world, announced his retirement from international football in June after Argentina were defeated by Chile in the final of the Copa America Centenario.
Newly appointed Argentina coach Edgardo Bauza had flown down to Spain on Wednesday and had met with the Argentinean players in Barcelona. Bauza had claimed that he had discussed "only football" with Messi and that he had not pressurised the Barcelona star to return to international duty.
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