Messi retires from international football
Published on: Tuesday, June 28, 2016
EAST RUTHERFORD: Lionel Messi sensationally announced his retirement from international football here Sunday after Argentina crashed to defeat against Chile in the Copa America Centenario final.A crestfallen Messi confirmed his decision to quit after yet another agonizing near-miss with Argentina, who have now lost three major tournament finals in a row since 2014."It's a hard moment for me and the team, and it's difficult to say, but its over with the Argentina team," said Messi, who was also on the losing side in the final of the 2007 Copa America.
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"I've done all I can, I've been in four finals and it hurts not to be a champion," the 29-year-old five-time world footballer of the year added.Messi had earlier been left distraught after missing Argentina's opening penalty in the shoot-out at MetLife Stadium after the two teams had finished extra-time deadlocked at 0-0.Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero had got the shoot-out off to a dream start by saving Chile's opening spot-kick but Messi then surrendered the initiative by blazing wildly over the bar.A further miss by Lucas Biglia put Chile in the box seat and they duly held their nerve to win 4-2.
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Argentina coach Gerardo Martino had given no inkling of Messi's decision in a post-match press conference but sympathized with his captain."He feels the way any football player must feel when he gets to a final and then loses," Martino said.
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"Certainly to lose again is too painful to act any differently."Meanwhile. Messi's international retirement left Argentinian football in turmoil after a traumatic penalty shootout defeat to Chile in the Copa America final.The heartbroken Barcelona superstar left the field in tears on Sunday after missing a spot-kick in the shootout—Messi's fourth straight defeat in a major final with Argentina."For me the national team is over," the crestfallen 29-year-old told reporters."I've done all I can, I've been in four finals and it hurts not to be a champion."It's a hard moment for me and the team, and it's difficult to say, but it's over with the Argentina team.""We were all devastated in the dressing room, particularly Leo, I'd never seen him in such a state," said Manchester City star Sergio Aguero who warned that other players could also quit the national side."It's likely that Messi won't be the only one to go into international retirement," said Aguero. "Several players are wondering whether to continue. It's our toughest defeat to take."Aguero did not say whether he would follow Messi in quitting but his name and that of Javier Mascherano were mentioned in media reports.Social media campaigns were immediately launched in Argentina in a bid to get the superstar to change his mind.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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