Is Messi the new Afridi?

Is it technically an international retirement if the player in question does not miss a single game or even a training session?

Whatever the correct terminology, Argentina fans received a much-needed boost on Friday when Lionel Messi confirmed he would be available for selection.

The captain had apparently hung up his boots following June’s Copa America defeat, but whatever new coach Edgardo Bauza said to him during their meeting this week certainly hit the spot as he reversed that decision.

And as always Twitter did not take long to react to the news, making a curious parallel between La Pulga and legendary Pakistani cricketer Shahid Afridi as well as dreaming of World Cup success in 2018.