Argentina striker Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from international football after Argentina’s defeat in the Copa America. Lionel Messi was culprit of missing a penalty in the shootout in the match that opposed Argentina to Chile.
Lionel Messi made a declaration after the game and said that he would not play for the national team again. He stated that it is fourth final that Argentina has lost and that he cannot take it anymore as it hurts too much. He was disappointed the way the match ended and losing the final again is too much.
Lionel Messi has enjoyed unprecedented success with his club Barcelona where he has won 8 Spanish titles, four Champions League trophies, and numerous domestic cups. However, he was failed to achieve something big with Argentina. The only medal he won with Argentina was a gold medal at the Olympics tournament in 2008. There was hope that Messi and Argentina would have won the Copa America Centenario, but this dream as well was shattered by Chile.
Indeed this is the second Copa America final in a row that Messi has lost against Chile, and he was also on the team that was beaten 1-0 by Germany in the last World Cup. Lionel Messi was also in the team that lost the Copa America to Brazil in 2007.
He stated that he had tried everything he can to win a tournament with Argentina, but unfortunately, he could not achieve it. For him, there is a moment that you just have to accept your fate and give up. He believes this is the time for him to stop playing for Argentina and to focus on his club football. He said that this would give others the opportunity to try and win the trophy.