Is the Copa America Lionel Messi's Last Dance with Argentina?

It didn't take long for the news to start moving through MetLife stadium. Reporters, janitors, elevator operators - everyone was discussing it.

After falling to Chile, missing a crucial penalty along the way, Messi had announced his international retirement.

That retirement was short-lived, but it does offer insight into the mid of the man himself. On that night in 2016, Messi was in pain. He was unable to cope with it any longer. After facing setback after setback, Messi wanted out.

That retirement came on the heels of a heartbreaking loss in the 2014 World Cup final and the 2015 Copa America final. It was followed by another World Cup heartbreak in 2018. At that point, everyone was considering the same thing: was Messi simply cursed?

That all changed in 2021, when Messi finally tasted glory in that blue and white shirt.

It's hard to imagine the relief that Messi must have felt that night in Brazil. Not happiness, not joy, not elation -- perhaps the best word is relief. After years of criticism, he finally had his answer.

With a 1-0 win over hosts Brazil in the final, Messi had finally won an international trophy as he lifted the Copa America. He was the tournament's leading scorer with four goals, and he shared the Best Player award with his longtime friend and teammate Neymar.

The world knows what happened next. Messi and Argentina marched into Qatar and left with a World Cup in hand. Messi, of course, was the star of the show, scoring seven goals to earn the tournament's Golden Ball.

And with it, the haters were silenced. The comparisons to the legendary Diego Maradona were finally fair. Even Messi's biggest doubters had to admit that he'd accomplished all he could. It would have been easy for Messi to ride off into the sunset with the title of GOAT.

He hasn't, though. He's back for more.

In the year and a half since Argentina lifted the World Cup, the Albiceleste have played 14 games. They've won 13 of them. Aside from a singular loss to Uruguay, no team has been able to stop Messi and Co., and plenty have tried.

Messi himself hasn't slowed down, either. Since the World Cup, Messi's international goal total has ballooned from 98 to 108, making him the third player to hit the century mark. He's one away from passing Iran's Ali Daei, although Messi's eternal rival, Cristiano Ronaldo, has a commanding lead at the top with 130 and counting.

Despite the fact that he'll turn 37 this week, Messi is still running laps around the competition. He isn't the same player he once was in his Barcelona heyday, but he's still as dominant as can be, particularly in that Argentina shirt. This Argentina team is still very much built around him and his magic and, until that magic slows down, Argentina will have a chance in every competition.

That includes this Copa America, where they are massive favorites in their title defense.

It's not even just that Argentina are supremely talented; it's also the fact that the bracket broke heavily in their favor.

Grouped with Peru, Chile and Canada, Argentina will certainly be tested in the group stage but, make no mistake, they'll be favorites each time. Chile, in particular, will be a personal one for Messi, who will face the 2016 Copa America winners in the same stadium they won in, MetLife Stadium. It's a chance for Argentina to bury some demons on the way to the knockouts.

Once there, Argentina will know that Brazil, Uruguay, Colombia and the U.S. men's national team are all on the other side. That's correct: Argentina won't face the second, third, fourth or fifth-best team in this tournament until a potential finale.

Their path will go through Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela or Jamaica ahead of the semifinals. The tournament is there for the taking, which is massive for Messi - who will be eager to seize it.

Messi himself has started to think about it. In fact, he's started to address it. Even with all of these big moments coming up, he's starting to think about the end. He's not ready for it, but it is on his mind.

He toldESPN Argentina:"I'm not prepared to leave football, I did this all my life, I enjoy the training, the games. The fear that everything's is going to be over, it's always there. I think Inter Miami is going to be my last club."

That wasn't the only interview in which he discussed the inevitable end.

"I have not yet thought about what I will do when I retire, today I try to enjoy the day to day, the moments, without thinking about the future," he told the Big Time Podcast. "I don't have anything clear yet, I hope to continue playing for a while longer, which is what I like.

"When the time comes, I will surely find the way to do what fulfills me and what I like and a new role. On a sporting level I was lucky to be able to achieve all my dreams and the truth is that I can't ask for more."

There's a very real chance that this Copa America will be his last. The next tournament won't be held until 2028, when Messi would be turning 41. It's hard to imagine him playing into his 40s, even as he is still so good nearing 37. This summer will be his goodbye to South America's biggest tournament, and he'll hope to say goodbye by becoming a two-time Copa champion.

But, while this may be his swan song in the Copa, does he have one more World Cup in him?

The stars are aligning, all pointing toward 2026. That summer, the World Cup will come to the U.S., bringing a new wave of interest to the sport in America. Part of that process has been Messi's arrival in Miami. Could the Argentine's final goodbye come after that World Cup?

It's very possible. His contract with Miami ends that year, and he's already said Miami will probably be the final stop of his club career. There's a chance that Messi will call it quits before that, especially if his level starts to dip but, in an ideal world, he wants to be there come 2026.

"Today the only thing I think about is getting to the Copa America well and being able to compete in it," Messi said on the Star+ documentary 'Champions, a year later'. "Fighting it again like we always did, trying to be champions. Then time will tell if I'm there [at the World Cup] or not.

"I'm going to arrive at an age [39] that I normally wouldn't be able to play in the World Cup. I said that I don't think I'm going to be there. It seemed that after the World Cup I was retiring and quite the opposite. Now I want to be there more than ever. [But] I'm not thinking about the World Cup and I'm not saying 100 percent that I won't be there because anything can happen.

"Given my age, the most normal thing is that I won't be there. Then we'll see to what extent. Maybe we do well in the Copa America and it happens. everything so that we continue. Maybe not. Being realistic it is difficult."

There's no telling what will happen over the next few years. Come 2026, Messi could still be near the top of his game, still Argentina's talisman, still among the best in the world. He may also be ready to call it a career.

It's been a rollercoaster, to say the least. From crushing defeats to legendary triumphs, Messi has experienced it all.

Now the world will wait and see what he has left. If this is indeed his Last Dance, Messi will surely be out to make it memorable.