Diego Maradona has urged Argentina captain Lionel Messi not to retire from global football despite their Copa America final defeat to Chile.
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The Barcelona superstar left the field in tears after missing a spot-kick in the Copa America Centenario final shootout against Chile on Sunday.
Having lost Copa America finals in 2007, 2015 and 2016 and the World Cup final in 2014, Messi turned his back on the worldwide game following the defeat at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
The father figure of Argentina team, Diego Maradona, who alone helped the team achieve the trophy in the 1986 World Cup, criticized Messi due to lack of personality. Maradona told the site of local La Nacion newspaper. “Because he has a lot to give, and he will come to Russian Federation in conditions to become world champion”, he continued.
After losing his fourth final for his country – after the World Cup two years ago and the Copa America in 2007, 2015 and 2016 – an emotional Messi said:”It’s a hard moment for me and the team, and it’s difficult to say, but it’s over with the Argentina team”. Its been four finals, its not meant for me.
Russian Federation is set to host the 2018 soccer World Cup.
“It was the thing I wanted the most, but I couldn’t get it, so I think it’s over”, he told reporters Sunday night.
Messi ended his global career after the defeat.
Former India captain Sourav Ganguly said “I am surprised with his decision”.
But the thought of Messi leaving the team because of pressure from AFA directors and other critics has Maradona hoping to support him in a fight to change Argentine soccer rather than seeing him depart the team.
“Several players are wondering whether to continue”. “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”.
Aguero did not say whether he would follow Messi in quitting but media reports mentioned him, Javier Mascherano and Gonzalo Higuain considering such a move.
He had to be pulled out of a cesspit he fell into as a two-year-old, fought tooth-and-nail for everything he achieved and, with his vast footballing talent, led Argentina to their second World Cup triumph in 1986 in Mexico.
It was the third heartbreaking final defeat in as many summers for the 29-year-old.
Messi is Argentina’s all-time leading scorer with 55 goals, a record he broke vs. the United States in the Copa America semifinal, but he has not won a major title with his country.
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– Messi scored his 55th worldwide goal in the Copa America semifinal against the United States. Argentine President Mauricio Macri was one of millions to tweet using the hashtag #NoTeVayasLio [Don’t Go Lio], one of many hashtags to have emerged following Messi’s announcement.
