5 footballers who resigned from their national team and then returned through the big door

In some occasions, great footballers have made the decision to resign - by their own decision - to continue playing with their national team. The reasons vary, from lack of conditions, through age, painful defeats, generational change and even differences with the coach or the federation of their country. This week a much awaited and celebrated return was presented, so we bring it here with four others that yielded many fruits.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic tops the list, as he made headlines in recent days, when the Swedish striker received the call from his team, five years after having resigned due to differences with the coaching staff. Today, at 39 years old, he is experiencing a great moment in his second spell at AC Milan, a team he revitalized and gave him a winning mentality. Now you will have the opportunity to fight for a place in the face of the Eurocup to be held in the middle of the year.

Lionel Messi, the second to be listed given his importance, announced his retirement from the Argentine team after losing the 2016 Copa América final to Chile, the second in consecutive years against the same rival. However, weeks later he retracted and decided to return to play the 2018 World Cup in Russia, where he would fall in the Round of 16 against future champions, France. Then, in the Copa América 2019 he would be third, after losing to Brazil in the semifinals.

Rafael Márquez, the Mexican who suffered a significant drop in his level of play at the end of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Therefore, several years passed before being called up again for the “Tri”. Finally, he recovered his best version and was able to attend the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, standing out as one of the best of his team and falling in the Round of 16 against the Netherlands, a team that would culminate in third place in the tournament.

Zinedine Zidane. The current Real Madrid coach resigned from the France team after the 2004 European Championship. However, a year later he decided to wear the gala shirt again and led his teammates to the final of the 2006 World Cup in Germany. the one who was expelled for the controversial incident with Marco Materazzi. In the end, Italy would be proclaimed from the penalty shootout.

And complete the list Ronaldo Nazario. The Brazilian 'Phenomenon' suffered a series of injuries after the final of the France 98 World Cup (they lost the final 0-3) and it was not until the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan that he was able to return. The result: he scored eight goals, including two in the final against Germany, and then went on to win the Ballon d'Or and the FIFA Player of the Year award.