Lionel Messi reveals real reason behind dramatic hairstyle change as 'everything came crashing down' with Argentina

He returned to international football this week after reversing his decision to retire

Lionel Messi has revealed that a 'fresh start' was behind the decision to bleach his hair blonde (Getty)

Lionel Messi has revealed the reason behind his drastic hairstyle change was due to a feeling that he needed to start afresh after yet another disappointing summer with Argentina, and not because he is a big Aaron Ramsey fan.

The Barcelona forward announced his international retirement in the immediate aftermath of Argentina’s penalty shootout defeat to Chile in the Copa America final.

Messi missed in that shootout and left the pitch in tears as Argentina failed in their third consecutive international tournament final, following losses in the 2015 Copa America and 2014 World Cup finals.

However, he later reversed his retirement and made his return to the side this week, scoring the winner in the 1-0 win against Barcelona teammate Luis Suarez’s Uruguay.

Speaking in an interview with Argentine actor Mingo, Messi revealed the summer’s events both on and off the pitch had gotten the better of him and the new hair was just a part of a new start.

He said: “I made a change to start from zero.

“A lot had gone on, things had happened, and I said to myself: ‘I have to break this and start again’.


 Messi reacts after the Copa America final defeat 
 (Getty)

“It was how I felt in that moment. Everything came crashing down.

“I felt like that [Copa America final] was the one, given how the team was and how we’d played in the competition. It was a huge disappointment.”

Messi will miss Argentina’s next World Cup qualifying game against Venezuela early on Wednesday morning with a groin injury but is expected to be fit to resume the LaLiga season with Barcelona against Alaves on Saturday.