Lionel Messi shook the Monday morning of the football fraternity and fans across the globe when he announced worldwide retirement following Argentina’s defeat to Chile in the Centenario Copa America 2016. “It ” s always very hard to predict when a match is going to be decided by penalty kicks”, Pizzi, who took over the fifth-ranked Chileans in January, told reporters.
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After a 0-0 draw for 120 minutes, Chile sealed the deal in the penalty shootout winning by 4-2. For me, the national team is over.
Per Goal’s Chris Davie, he said: “I never feel greater pride in our team”. I think this is best for everyone.
With the AFA’s presidential election marred by controversy and uncertainty, Maradona added: ‘I am very sorry and very angry with what is happening to Argentine football. “I missed my penalty, which was super important”.
The big difference on this occasion was that Messi, unlike previous year, failed with his spot-kick, a miss made all the more telling by the fact that it came moments after Sergio Romero had denied Chile’s first penalty-taker, Arturo Vidal.
“Lio must go on in the national team”, he expressed on his official Facebook account. The sign on the left reads: “Don’t leave me Messi, I love you more than my mum”.
Macri ended his tweet with the hashtag #NoTeVayasLio (#Don’tLeaveLio), which became a global trending topic Monday.
Newspaper La Nacion says that the country’s focus is firmly on convincing Messi to stay, rather than any disappointment caused by the team’s defeat, in an article titled “Clamour for Messi eclipses frustration”.
But, while Maradona reached the heights by lifting the World Cup, Messi’s only major worldwide honour has been Olympic gold at the 2008 Beijing Games, even though at club level he has won four Champions Leagues with Spanish greats Barcelona.
If these players do retire, it could leave Argentina in dire straits ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) File photo dated 18-11-2014 of Argentina’s Lionel Messi. “It’s sad because once again a lovely chance slipped away”, Romero said. It might, but I reckon the fact that he did it previous year and that was Chile’s first ever triumph in the competition will make it less likely to have such an impact on his club form.
I feel an enormous sadness, it tears my heart in two, said 29-year-old Juan Pablo Pinasco. When asked if he would every suit up again for Argentina’s national team Messi stood at his locker an responded, “I don’t think so”.
Within the team, Messi’s exit has sparked off a debate. Some disagreed on quitting to play for the national side. “Several players are wondering whether to continue”. Now supporters around the world will hope the decision not to play for Argentina is not final.
Aguero did not say whether he would follow Messi in quitting but he, Javier Mascherano and Gonzalo Higuain were mentioned in media reports.
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Widely held to be the greatest player of his generation, Messi has won every trophy possible at club level with Spanish giants Barcelona, although his only titles with Argentina were the Under-20 World Cup and the 2008 Olympics.
