Messi has lost three finals with Argentina in the last three years (Copa America 2014, 2016 and FIFA World Cup 2014).
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“I want more than anyone to win a title with the national team, but unfortunately it did not happen”. He now plays for Barcelona in the Spanish soccer league in which he has won the “La Liga” title eight times and the prestigious UEFA Champions League four times.
Messi has won every trophy possible at club level with Barcelona, though his only titles with Argentina were the Under-20 World Cup and the 2008 Olympics.
Messi, victor of four Champions League titles and eight Spanish La Liga crowns with Barcelona, was also a member of Argentina’s Copa America team that lost to Brazil in 2007.
Messi and Lucas Biglia missed penalties for Argentina in the shoot-out to hand Chile their second Copa America title in a special tournament which was played to celebrate the competition’s centenary. “I’ve done all I can; it hurts not to be a champion”, Messi told TRT.
“That’s the way I feel right now, it’s a huge sadness once again and I missed the penalty that was so important”. The accusations have been many: Messi fails to deliver at the crunch for Argentina, lacks charisma as captain and, above all, he doesn’t really care about winning under national colours.
“As well as an admiration for Messi, I’m driven very much by his numbers”, Pizzi said of Messi’s record-breaking career.
It remains to be seen if, like many boxers, Messi returns for more, with qualification for the 2018 World Cup in Qatar already under way.
Having lost Copa America finals in 2007, 2015 and 2016 and the World Cup final in 2014, Messi turned his back on the global game following the defeat at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Messi was quoted by the Argentine national team’s Twitter handle. I’m surprised, but not sure about his decision or why he made it. It’s not for me after four finals.
Asked if he were retiring, the 29-year old said, “I tried my hardest”.
It was not entirely all tears for Argentina as goalkeeper Sergio Romero was rewarded with the Fair Play award. “I think he spoke while he was heated, because a attractive opportunity escaped us”.
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On an ill-tempered evening that included a first-half ejection on each side and eight yellow cards, the game was scoreless through regulation and 30 minutes of extra time, with Argentina’s Gonzalo Higuain missing a clear goal-scoring opportunity for the third straight final.
