Lionel Messi says he is quitting Argentina national team

“On top of everything, I missed the penalty kick”, Messi told TyC.

Argentina would most likely have won the final 1-0, meaning Messi would have been happy – and probably wouldn’t have quit the national team.

Univision’s broadcast of Sunday’s Copa America Centenario final between Chile and Argentina averaged 6.8 million viewers, making it the network’s most-watched soccer match since the 2014 World Cup final. “But four defeats in major finals over the course of a decade have finally broken his heart”. It’s not meant for me. “I tried many times [to be a champion] but did not”, Messi said in an emotion-choked voice.

Argentina fans have been critical of Messi for not bringing the country a championship.

In the final of the 2007 Copa America, the 5 times world best footballer also tasted defeat with Argentina.

In the semi-final win over the United States, he became Argentina’s top global scorer of all time with his 55th goal.

Messi, who just turned 29, told reporters after the game that the national team was not for him. “So the thinking is it might be time to make room for other players”.

In a promo video before the game, Sports Illustrated called Messi the “greatest soccer player ever” and compared him to Muhammad Ali, Babe Ruth and Michael Jordan.

ESPN’s John Sutcliffe and Tom Marshall preview the Copa America final between Argentina and Chile.

While Barcelona failed to retain either La Liga or the Champions League, Messi completed 2012 with an extraordinary total of 91 goals in all competitions, a record for a calendar year. And should have won in extra time and we were not able to win. The Argentines lost 4-2 in the penalty shootout as Lionel Messi and Lazio’s Lucas Biglia missed their spot-kicks. He sent his shot into the stands, stunning himself, both teams and the crowd.

Chile will have the dynamic Artur Vidal back after suspension and Pizzi hopes central midfielder Marcelo Diaz will recover from the muscle injury that kept him out the 2-0 win over Colombia in the semi-final. Hold onto that Messi jersey, kid. “Whether he wins a title is another thing, but at least he should not retire like this”, Bhutia said.

After Sunday’s final, his typical composure gave way to tears of frustration. “Messi played well. It was the coach’s mistake to field injured players”.

Argentina coach Gerardo Martino reportedly said, “The burden of the consecutive games [lost] has been accumulating these last two years”. “He feels like you would expect a player to feel after playing and losing a final”. “It hurts. There are situations we can explain football-wise and other situations that can be explained, if you will, talking about our luck”.

A comeback is still possible for the superstar striker as we are two years away from the 2018 World Cup. First of all for me, and then for everyone.

Higuain had the best first-half chance in the 21st minute when he picked up Gary Medel’s giveaway, dribbled in and chipped the ball over Bravo only to have it roll wide of the far post.