Lionel Messi has shocked the footballing world by announcing that he's ready to quit the Argentinian national football team after their loss to Chile in the Copa America Centenario final. The 29-year-old has led his team to three successive losses on the international stage - the FIFA World Cup in 2014, the Copa America in 2015 and this year's Copa America Centenario.
Lionel Messi is arguably one of the best footballers in the world right now and has contributed heavily to Argentina's rise to the final of three major tournaments. The Barcelona forward scored five goals in this Copa America tournament – one behind the leader Eduardo Vargas – despite not starting the first two games.
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Tata Martino had earlier suggested that Messi should consider quitting – before the final – but he'll be surprised at this announcement. Messi was widely expected to win Argentina their first title since 1993 but Chile took them to penalties once again and beat them once again.
These are the quotes by Argentina FA's official Twitter account when Messi, Sergio Romero and Sergio Aguero:
Translation: "It is difficult, the time is hard for any analysis. In the dressing room I thought the selection was completed for me, it is not for me."
Translation: "It is what I feel now, it is a great sadness that I pass, I have to err the criminal to me, was very important. It is now"."
Translation: "I think that Leo (#Messi) spoke in hot, because a nice possibility escaped us".
Watch the moment Leo Messi announced his retirement:
