You'd think this would be standard for everyone, no matter how accomplished and established, but apparently it's not
Messi was getting killed for his Argentina form for years until the 2nd half of his career where he really stepped up. He used to catch hell from fans when underperforming for Argentina even while he was putting up video game numbers for Barca.
On the topic though, everyone is mortal and will have a time where someone else can do their job better and where your clubs and teams are better off with you in a lesser role. Some folks bow out gracefully and others try to fight a losing battle, the outcome is always the same in the end though.
It's happened to players as great as Ron and Messi before and it will happen to the great players after them. NT's and club's have to much pride to ever acquiese to becoming glorified vanity projects for anyone and that's how it should be.