Another Argentine was more critical of Messi.
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“I tried many times to get a title and failed”, Messi told Argentine TV network TyC Sports.
Messi is widely rated as the best player in the world, but that was his fourth defeat in an global final for Argentina.
Argentina legend Diego Maradona has urged Lionel Messi to reconsider his retirement from the national team.
Don’t cry for me, Argentina.
“We were all devastated in the dressing room, particularly Leo, I’d never seen him in such a state”, said Manchester City star Sergio Aguero who warned that other players could also quit the national side. “My generation can’t compare him to Maradona – that’s for my generation, because of what Maradona did for Argentine soccer. I hope the joy of seeing the best in the world will continue for many years more”.
Argentina’s record goal-scorer Messi, who blazed over the crossbar in the shootout, announced his decision shortly after the final whistle in New Jersey on Sunday night.
Both teams were on a stalemate following extra time of play, but Messi missed that penalty kick. Argentina went down to Chile in the finals of Copa America 2016. Argentina outshot Chile 16-4 and La Roja collapsed three, four and even five defenders around Messi, then chopped down the diminutive attacker when he tried to accelerate toward the goal.
The 30 minutes of extra time was not much different, although Vargas came close for Chile and Aguero had a header brilliantly tipped over by Bravo.
It started well for Argentina when their goalkeeper Sergio Romero got down to block Arturo Vidal’s opening penalty but Messi blasted over and Lucas Biglia’s spot kick was saved by Bravo.
Substitute Francisco Silva took Chile’s fifth penalty and struck it low and to the right of Romero to give his country their second successive title after winning their first on home soil previous year. After Messi came back on the field, Aguero put a hand on one of Messi’s shoulders. Messi nearly immediately took it off.
Argentina coach Gerardo Martino had given no inkling of Messi’s decision in a post-match press conference but sympathized with his captain. “He feels like you would expect a player to feel after playing and losing a final”.
The tournament’s average crowd of 46,119 was almost double the 25,223 in Chile previous year, and attendance will be used by the U.S. Soccer Federation as justification it deserves to host a World Cup again, likely as part of a bid for the 2026 tournament.
Argentina’s next competitive match is a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in September, and the top-ranked Albiceleste are considered among the early favorites to win the 2018 World Cup in Russian Federation. They ended up 0-0 after 120 minutes of play, and Messi missed the penalty with the ball shot over the bar, and his emotions shoot up with it. It was the first time he has missed a penalty kick in his entire career.
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Messi, who turned 29 on Friday, won under-20 and Olympic (under-23) titles with Argentina.
