It’s a great sadness that it happened to me, that I missed penalty kick that was very important.
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A further miss by Lucas Biglia put Chile in the box seat and they duly held their nerve to win 4-2.
Argentina seeks its first major title since the 1993 Copa – and its first since Messi’s debut in 2005 – on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey, against the victor of Wednesday’s semifinal between Chile and Colombia.
On Sunday, both Argentina and Chile failed to score a goal in 90-minutes match so the match went for an extra-time and Messi was first to score a penalty.
Messi admitted that he is feeling extremely sad after missing his penalty kick, which was really crucial for his side. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images) File photo dated 18-11-2014 of Argentina’s Lionel Messi. The day finally came on June 27, 2016.
With Lionel Messi and Javier Mascherano already having announced their retirements, there have been reports that a host of other players like Angel Di Maria, Sergio Aguero, Ezequiel Lavezzi and Lucas Bigila are set to follow suit. Photo credit should read Martin Rickett/PA Wire.
The Barcelona forward has made a decision to quit without winning a major trophy with his country.
Three blank finals in three years in the World Cup and Copa Americas proved the last straw. “I think there are a lot of people who want this, who obviously are not satisfied, as we are not satisfied reaching a final and not winning it”.
But Bravo, who plays alongside the five-time Ballon d’Or victor at Barcelona, is holding onto the hope that the 29-year-old will add to his 113 caps. “That’s four finals [lost], it’s not for me”, Messi said after the final late Sunday. Now I will not try more and there will be no going back’.
“We were all devastated in the dressing room, particularly Leo, I’d never seen him in such a state”, the Agence France Presse reported Maradona’s former son-in-law saying. Messi’s unhappiness with the Argentine federation, which is teetering on the brink of collapse, may also have influenced his decision. Check out the free kick below that might have pushed Messi over the edge.
Macri said he told Messi to “ignore some of the nonsense because, truth be told, we are all very happy” with how the Barcelona star has played for Argentina.
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He has won the Champions League four times, Spain’s Primera Division on eight occasions and four Copa del Rey crowns. “It was the cup that he (Messi) had to win, more than anything it is something that he deserves and I just don’t want him to leave the national team”.
