“They waved flags, chanted” “Messi is not leaving!” and carried banners.
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A call went out on social media for a demonstration to be held on Saturday at the Obelisco monument in the centre of Buenos Aires, a traditional spot for celebrating sporting victories, to urge Messi to reconsider.
Messi has played 113 times for Argentina.
“My time with the national team is over”.
“The national team is over for me”, Messi told Argentine network TyC Sports.
“I’ve done all I can, I’ve been in four finals and it hurts not to be a champion”. It was his fourth straight defeat in a major final while representing Argentina. His penalty in the shootout in Copa America Centenario Sunday night in New Jersey went way over the crossbar in another ego-shattering moment, in a career that began at age 13. Yesterday I had a friend explain to me that Messi runs faster dribbling a ball than without it. Is that a joke? “He will recover from this”.
He promptly told reporters he was quitting, throwing Argentine football into turmoil ahead of the 2018 World Cup in Russian Federation.
Another look at Lionel Messi’s PK miss in the shootout loss to Chile. I think this is best for everyone. First of all for me, and then for everyone.
Will that be Lionel Messi’s last touch in worldwide football?
Honestly, Messi the magician was not considered that prolific when he was playing for Argentina by many. Now there has to be a change.
According to the goal.com, Macri said that he was really proud of the national team’s performance and requested the Barcelona star not to listen to the criticism.
“We, as Argentines, can’t afford ourselves the luxury of letting the best player in the world leave us this way, because he is still in good shape. He doesn’t have the personality to be a leader”, he told Brazil’s Pele during an event in Paris.
Raina also said, “Sad day for football lovers We Will Miss You Messi #JersyNo10 #Messi #HeartOftheGame”. “He has to continue because he has more in him, because he’s going to arrive in Russian Federation in form to be champion of the world”.
It was Argentina’s third consecutive defeat in a major final as their 23-year long wait for a silverware continued. A FIFA Under-20 World Cup title in 2005 and a gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games, days after being awarded Ronaldinho’s “10” shirt at Barca, will stand as his sole achievements with the Seleccion. Last week, with his 55th goal, he became his country’s leading scorer.
He added: “There are four finals, not for me, unfortunately, it was what I wanted. I tried many times [to be a champion] but did not”.
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“It’s not meant for me”.
