Sergio Aguero and other Argentina players could follow the lead of captain Lionel Messi and retire from global football after losing the final of the Copa America on penalties to Chile for the second straight year. “Those who are saying he should quit are doing it so that we won’t see what a disaster Argentine football has become”, Maradona said.
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President Mauricio Macri, a former chairman of Boca Juniors who was pictured watching Sunday’s match wearing an Argentina shirt, joined in the show of support for Messi with a message on Twitter. “I ” ve done all I can, I ” ve been in four finals and it hurts not to be a champion”. Though the majority of Argentinian fans remain squarely in Messi ” s corner, his critics invariably contrast his success with Barcelona with his inability to lead Argentina to worldwide glory.
“I thought a lot about it in the locker room, and I think that I’m done with the (national) team”.
The 29-year-old Messi, a multiple trophy victor with Barcelona, has now been part of four final defeats with the national team, three in the Copa America and at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. He was also on the losing side against Brazil in the 2007 Copa America final.
Argentine superstar Lionel Messi’s announcement to retire from worldwide football will not have any impact on Tata Motors’ association with its global brand ambassador, the auto major said on Monday. The five-time FIFA Ballon d’Or victor licked his lip, gave the goalie a quick appraising glance, and sent a cannonball-like shot over the goal, missing for Argentina when it mattered most.
Messi, who scored five goals in the tournament, sent a free kick that Sergio Aguero almost headed in 10 minutes into extra time, only to have Bravo jump and extend his right hand to tip the ball over the crossbar.
He then equalled Argentina’s global goalscoring record of 54, held by Gabriel Batistuta, in the quarter-finals before setting a new mark with his 55th worldwide goal in the semi-final win over the United States.
Nicolas Castillo and Charles Aranguiz converted their kicks for Chile, and Javier Mascherano and Sergio Aguero made theirs, leaving the teams tied 2-2 after three rounds.
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Lionel Messi says it’s over. Messi briefly pulled his jersey of his face, as if not wanting to watch. Messi nearly immediately took it off. 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. Diaz got his first yellow for hacking down Messi about 28 yards out in the 16th minute, then got his second for obstructing a charging Messi about 30 yards out. Rojo received a straight red when he slid into Arturo Vidal from behind and poked away the ball, but Vidal’s leg bent awkwardly under his body as he fell.
