The loss makes it Argentina’s third defeat in a row in a final after defeats in last year’s Copa America and the 2014 World Cup. I think there’s a lot of people who want this, who obviously are not satisfied, as we are not satisfied reaching a final and not winning it.
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Sergio Aguero, Messi’s best friend on the team, said he had never seen the mood in the dressing room so low while goalkeeper Sergio Romero suggested he might rethink his decision. The five-time Fifa Player of the Year has won four Champions League titles and eight La Liga crowns with Barcelona, but has yet to win a trophy with Argentina’s senior team. “It’s a made decision, I think”.
Argentina and Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero said he hoped Messi would “reflect” on his decision and reconsider, adding: “I think he spoke while he was heated, because a attractive opportunity escaped us. Now I will not try more and there will be no going back”. “It’s tough, it’s not the time for analysis”, he was quoted as saying on the Argentine national team’s Twitter feed.
Messi, as always, will be the focus of the latest shortcoming, especially after he missed his penalty that would have given Argentina an early lead in the shootout. Holders Chile stunned Argentina to win the Copa America in a penalty shoot-out as Messi’s title curse struck again.
After Sunday’s match finished 0-0 in 120 minutes, Chile won 4-2 on penalties.
It was the fourth final loss for Messi, who also played for Argentina in its penalty-kicks loss to Brazil in the 2004 final. “My generation can’t compare him to Maradona – that’s for my generation, because of what Maradona did for Argentine soccer”.
Both sides were reduced to 10 men in the first half as Brazilian referee Heber Lopes struggled to get a grip on an ill-tempered contest played in front of a crowd of 82,026.
La Albiceleste had five shots on goal to Chile’s three, but the most glaring number was this: 11 shots off target for Argentina. Messi’s free kick in extra time went off the wall.
“He’ll keep trying”, Argentina coach Gerardo Martino said, “and all of them will keep trying”.
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But through some combination of his frustrations with losing in another final and dealing with AFA, the world’s greatest player has decided that enough is enough.
