A shot to the missed goal, and the lost Copa America, against Chile, for a third defeat in three years: nauseated, Lionel Messi has given up the Argentine jersey and retired from international football in East Rutherford, United States.
"If we lose, they do not fall!" Launched the Argentinian football legend Diego Maradona on Wednesday at the players of the Argentine selection before the final of the Centenary Copa America. 'Leo' Messi, the five-time Golden Ball, has listened: over for him now that albiceleste jersey, he abandons after wearing 112 times.
"The selection is over for me, this is the fourth final I lose, the third away," he explained with reference to defeats in the World Cup final in 2014 against Germany (1-0 ), in overtime, then the Copa America 2015 and 2016.
At 29, he will devote himself to his club, FC Barcelona, with whom he can win four Champions League, eight Spanish championships, three Super Cups in Europe, etc. An amazing contrast!
As in July 2015 therefore, while in Chile, the Chilean Roja again had reason to Argentina in the final of the Copa America, in an almost identical scenario, stifling his forwards, including Messi, and making a difference on penalties goal (0-0 4 tab 2).
"It's over for me"
"This is a hard time for me and for the team, it is very difficult (...) I wanted so much to bring a championship to Argentina, I am leaving without having attained" said star striker of FC Barcelona.
Worse, it is the "smart" Barça, 69 kg for 1.72 m, the best player in the world, which this time precipitated the defeat of his team. Only Argentine player to a successful shot at goal in 2015 (0-0 ap, 4 tab to 1), this time he missed his attempt against the Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo, his partner at Barca!
Argentine first shooter, he returns the ball well above the Chilean cage. Leaving the role of hero of this final to Francisco Silva, a defensive midfielder of the Mexican club Chiapas, author of the fourth shot the Chilean goal, synonymous with second title in the history of Chilean football.
Impressive so far in this Copa America, with 18 goals in five games, the Albiceleste has yet cracked. And Messi with it.
Messi, subject to aggressive marking of Arturo Vidal, the midfield of Bayern, was never able to express themselves fading away gradually, like a final increasingly dull over minutes.
It is therefore a seventh final lost to Argentina since his last title, the 1993 Copa América.
Already criticized before the tournament by the legendary Maradona for his lack of personality, Messi drew the conclusions from this setback.
"Do not leave"
"I did everything I could, but it's not for me, a final we lost again, this very hurts to lose, in addition to penalties, my decision is" has he regretted.
It will nevertheless scored five goals in the Copa, becoming the way the best scorer of the Argentina team with a total of 55 achievements, one more than Gabriel Batistuta.
What the Argentine press push to reclaim the idol to reverse its decision.
After 112 appearances for the sky and white stripes, Messi played his last game Sunday for an international career started in August 2005, to 19 years. With only consolation for an Olympic gold medal at the Olympics in Beijing in 2008.
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