Topics: Argentina, FIFA, Lionel Messi, FIFA
Messi had his debut with La Albiceleste against Hungary on August 17, 2005. He has played 102 games with the national team ever since.

Lionel Messi is not giving his back on the national team after losing the Copa America to Chile over the summer. He wants to represent his country despite the criticism from many fans and players including Diego Armando Maradona. Gerardo Martino has called Messi for their next two games against Bolivia and Mexico.

The 28-year-old player is now celebrating ten years from the first time that he suited up to represent the Albiceleste in a game against Hungary. It was Lisandro Lopez who stepped out of the pitch to give Messi his chance. That time, La Pulga barely lasted 40 seconds on the pitch as the referee showed him a red card.

So much has happened for Messi in ten years playing for Argentina

That was a debut to forget, and there are some other episodes throughout the 102 games that he has played for Argentina that we are sure Messi would not like to relive. Probably the most important one was failing to win the World Cup in Brazil against Germany. Losing to Chile in the Copa America may be a close second.

Throughout ten years, Messi has played in 66 official games and scored 31 goals out of 46 total. With Argentina, La Pulga won the 2005 U20 World Cup and a Gold Medal in the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. He has participated in three world Cups ever since and scored five goals overall. Winning the adidas Golden Ball in the 2014 World Cup meant nothing for him as he was ever so close to winning the Jules Rimet trophy in Brazil.

We all know one thing, Messi hates losing 

WATCH: Messi scores in many ways for his national team

Now, despite the ups and downs, Messi still wants Argentina to win a major title. The Albiceleste is on a serious drought of championships for the senior team. Ever since 1993, when they defeated Mexico in the Copa America of Ecuador, they have not won it, and now Uruguay has more titles than them in that tournament (14-15).

There were rumours that Messi would take some time off from playing with the national team after losing a second championship game in Chile. Truth is, Martino has called him up along with Carlos Tevez and other stars for their upcoming games against Bolivia and Mexico on September 4 and 8.

Tata Martino's call-ups for the upcoming gamesArgentina call ups