Argentina lost the Copa America final to Chile on Sunday in a penalty shootout, and it especially left Lionel Messi heartbroken after the superstar missed badly on a penalty kick.
Well, Messi said on Argentine television after the loss that he’s retiring from international play:
“The national team is over for me,” he told the Argentine network TyC Sports after Chile beat Argentina for the Copa America title Sunday night. “It’s been four finals, it’s not meant for me. I tried. It was the thing I wanted the most, but I couldn’t get it, so I think it’s over.”
AHORA: Messi: “Se terminó para mí la Selección” https://t.co/Nws9kiScoV
— TyC Sports (@TyCSports) June 27, 2016
Messi isn’t exactly old at 29 and is still the world’s best player. Heck, he scored a second-half hat trick just two weeks ago against Panama in the Copa America. There would seem to be a very good chance that this is just the five-time FIFA Player of the Year being very emotional and frustrated, and making some comments in the heat of the moment.
Messi isn’t retiring. A guy like that isn’t throwing his legacy and career out the door on emotion. — Julie Stewart-Binks (@JSB_FOX) June 27, 2016
Let’s hope that’s the case. The Argentina national team and their fans especially hope that’s the case.
[AP]
