After nearly two months away, Lionel Messi comes out of International retirement

Lionel Messi has sensationally returned to Argentine National team after holding talks with new coach Edgardo Bauza. Messi, 29, who is Argentina's all-time leading scorer with 55 goals in 113 appearances, quit after Argentina's Copa America final defeat by Chile in June in which he cried and told media reporters after the match that he had decided to retire. But in a statement reported by media in Argentina, the Barcelona striker said he made the U-turn for the "love of the country" and "to help from within".

"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. We need to fix many things in Argentinian football, but I prefer to do this from inside and not criticise from outside."

"A lot of things went through my head the day of the last final and I seriously thought about quitting, but I love this country and this shirt too much. I thank all the people who want me to keep playing with Argentina, I hope we can soon deliver them some joy."

Messi on Friday was named in Argentina's squad for the next set of International friendlies alongside  Manchester City trio Sergio Aguero, Pablo Zabaleta and Nicolas Otamendi and Manchester United pair Sergio Romero and Marcos Rojo.