Lionel Messi comes out of international retirement for Argentina

The Barcelona star quit the national team after missing a penalty in the Copa America final shootout loss to Chile.

But now local media, quoting his management team, have revealed his U-turn. "I gave serious thought to quitting, but my love for my country and this shirt is too great," the 29-year-old was quoted as saying in a statement.

Earlier, Argentina boss Edgardo Bauza, who took the job after Gerardo Martino’s resignation last month and flew to Spain to speak to Barcelona players on Thursday, said he was confident that his star forward would return to the fold in time for the World Cup qualifying matches in September.

Despite Messi's concerns about ongoing problems at the national federation, Bauza said: "There is no doubt in my mind that he wants to return to play for the national team. I saw him with a great desire to return."

"I don't want to get ahead of myself," he added. "At noon, I will call him before I finish the list [of players for the qualifiers].”

Argentina will face Uruguay and Venezuela in the qualifiers, and Friday 12th is the CONMEBOL deadline to name the 18-man squad for the matches.