Soccer Shocker: Lionel Messi Says He’s Retiring From Argentina’s National Team

But with the world’s best footballer – and arguably the greatest player in football history – playing for Argentina, they had little to worry about.

” ‘I think he spoke while he was heated, because a handsome opportunity escaped us, ‘ said Romero”.

Messi’s dramatic announcement followed Argentina’s third loss in a major final in three years.

“He will go to Russian Federation [2018 World Cup] in form to be world champion”.

Aguero did not say whether he would be one of the players to call time on his Argentina career.

“I’ve done all I can, I’ve been in four finals and it hurts not to be a champion”, Messi said. His connection with Barcelona grew stronger over the years and some fans back in Argentina were bothered by it, especially when success continued to elude the national team.

Some national team fans resorted to social media, calling their biggest star a quitter and saying that the 29-year-old would still be young enough to at least try to help Argentina win the coveted title in the 2018 World Cup in Russian Federation.

As if the stakes weren’t already high enough for Messi and his team, Argentine soccer legend Diego Maradona said before the match that they shouldn’t bother coming back home if they didn’t win. “I tried. It was the thing I wanted the most, but I couldn’t get it, so I think it’s over”.

The failure of the superstar to match the achievements of Diego Maradona, who single-handedly carried the team to victory in the 1986 World Cup, has often been used against him.

Messi, meanwhile, is expected to return to preseason with Barcelona in Spain, where it should be another successful season for him at the club level. In the 70s we [Brazil] had really good players like Rivellino, Gerson, Tostao.

Argentina’s next competitive match is a World Cup qualifier against Uruguay in September, and the top-ranked Albiceleste are considered among the early favorites to win the 2018 World Cup in Russian Federation.

Messi has enjoyed an immensely decorated career with Barca, getting his hands on 28 trophies, including eight La Liga titles and a quartet of Champions League triumphs.

Messi, who turned 29 on Friday, won under-20 and Olympic (under-23) titles with Argentina.

“It’s not meant for me”. However, in all four showpieces he has participated in with Argentina – the Copa America finals of 2007, 2015 and 2016, and the 2014 World Cup – have ended in a bitter defeat.

He is the national team’s career leading scorer with 55 goals in 113 global appearances. “I tried many times to get a title and failed”.