Argentina lose Messi along with Copa final

East Rutherford (US), June 27 

Lionel Messi sensationally quit international football leaving Argentinian football in turmoil after a traumatic penalty shootout defeat to Chile in the Copa America final. The heartbroken Barcelona superstar left the field in tears today after missing a spot-kick in shoot-out — Messi’s fourth straight defeat in a major final with Argentina. 

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“For me the national team is over,” said the crestfallen 29-year-old. “I’ve done all I can, I’ve been in four finals and it hurts not to be a champion. It’s a hard moment for me and the team, and it’s difficult to say, but it’s over with the Argentina team.” 

In Photos: World's best calls it quits

Read more: Sporting fraternity shocked over Messi's retirement

Social media campaigns were immediately launched in Argentina in a bid to get the superstar to change his mind. The hashtags “NotevayasLeo” (Don’t go Leo) and “Messiquedate” (Messi stay) spread quickly in the fallout. Messi’s dramatic announcement followed Argentina’s third loss in a major final in three years. They were beaten 1-0 by Germany in the final of the 2014 World Cup and lost on penalties, also to Chile, in the 2015 Copa America final. Messi also tasted defeat with Argentina in the final of the 2007 Copa America.

‘Leo is the best’ 

Despite a glittering career that has seen him named FIFA World Player of the Year five times, Messi has faced persistent sniping from critics in Argentina. Yet he received support today from Chile’s victorious Argentine coach Juan Antonio Pizzi, who maintained that Messi is the best player ever. “As well as an admiration for Messi, I’m driven very much by his numbers,” Pizzi said of Messi’s record-breaking career. “Messi’s numbers are unmatched, and I don’t think they will ever be matched because it’s impossible for a player to find the things that Messi finds.”

While universally regarded as one of the greatest footballers ever, he has regularly been targeted for his inability to land a major title with Argentina. Messi’s failure to match the achievements of Diego Maradona, who single-handedly carried the team to victory in the 1986 World Cup, has often been held against him. 

Injury behind decision? 

Messi’s bombshell decision comes after a gruelling season disrupted by injury last year. He recovered to help Barcelona win the Spanish title once more and was relishing the prospect of leading Argentina at the Copa America Centenario. — AFP

Messi’s matches: Club vs Country

Lionel Messi’s retirement from international football, at age 29 and merely two years before the next World Cup, has come as a surprise. It is speculated that as he ages, he wants to decrease the workload on his body. But, as the following chart explains, most of his workload involves matches for his club, Barcelona. For instance, last year Messi played only eight matches for Argentina (one of them being a friendly), but 57 for Barcelona in the 2014-15 season, in the Spanish League and Champions League.