LIONEL Messi, the world’s best footballer, is taking a family holiday in the Bahamas to get away from the pressures of a long season and the disappointment of another major defeat for his team, Argentina, after which he shocked the nation by announcing his retirement from global soccer.
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The loss followed defeats in the 2015 Copa final, also against Chile, as well as the 2014 World Cup decider against Germany in Brazil.
The ex-Manchester United man continued: “He [Messi] isn’t used to defeats or disappointments; not even finishing second”.
Images of Messi crying with teammates were hard enough to take for some fans but the news of his retirement has hit numerous country’s poorest hardest. “He loves the national team and he will do everything for his country”.
After his fourth defeat in a decade, Messi chose to announce his retirement from worldwide football saying, “It’s been four finals, I tried”, as per reports.
Nevertheless, Argentines, at the urging of public figures such as President Mauricio Macri and Argentine soccer great Diego Maradona, gathered Saturday evening around the Obelisco, a monument on one of Buenos Aires’s avenues where fans traditionally celebrate sporting victories.
But Pele, who won three World Cups, has insisted Messi, yet to taste meaningful success with his country, should return to the global stage.
Messi was born in central Argentina and played soccer as a child. “Now there are pictures of Messi everywhere”.
Ronaldo and Messi have been great rivals in La Liga for the past seven years and have shared the Ballon d’Or award for the last eight seasons. Has his contribution to the Blaugrana been more valuable than that of Andres Iniesta, and the recently departed Xavi Hernandez – both of whom masterminded Spain’s World Cup and European Championship success?
Indeed, Ronaldo has admitted that it pained him to see Messi in tears after Argentina successfully upheld their 23-year trophy-less streak by losing out to Chile in the Copa America. “I don’t think we will see another like him in the next thousand years”.
“Since I have known you to exist as a player, I’ve never stopped watching you”, said a Messi fan from Puerto Rico on the rally’s Facebook page.
“He has taken a hard decision and the fans should accept it”, he added.
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Lionel Messi is considering a return to the Argentina national team, if you are to believe a friend of his.
