Say it isn’t so. Lionel Messi, 29, has sensationally said he is quitting international soccer in an emotional interview on Argentinian TV after his national team’s loss to Chile in the Copa America on June 26. The’ World Footballer of the Year’ choked back tears after his team lost in a heartbreaking penalty shootout 4-2, and soon after Lionel said that was enough for him.
After the game, Cristiano Ronaldo‘s nemesis was confronted by reporters who quizzed Lionel after he managed to miss his penalty in the shootout loss to a dogged Chile team. And boy, did he sound dejected. He’s lost four major finals with Argentina, so it’s completely understandable!
“The national team is over for me. That’s four finals (lost), it’s not for me,” Messi told reporters. “It’s a made decision, I think.” We hope that think means he will reconsider?
It’s hard to tell what his state of mind is right now, especially since he carried the weight of his team on his shoulders. And, let’s be honest, even the greats can have an off day once in a while.
If Messi does quit then he can be safe in the knowledge that he has left a huge mark on the Argentina national team. While he has suffered in major finals, including two defeats to Chile in consecutive Copa America Finals, a World Cup Final defeat to Germany in 2014 and another Copa America defeat in 2007 to Brazil, he has been incredible during that period. He is the leading Argentine national team scorer with 55 goals in 112 games, overtaking legends such as Gabriel Batistuta and Diego Maradona. Just brilliant.
Are you gutted that Lionel has retired from international duty and you may not see him at the next World Cup? Tell us what you think below!
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