Argentina's all-time leading goalscorer, Lionel Messi vowed to quit international football following the lost to Chile on penalties in Sunday night Copa America Centenario final in New Jersey, USA.
His statement after the match "In the dressing room I thought that this is the end for me with the national team, it's not for me." He continued "That's the way I feel right now, it's a huge sadness once again and I missed the penalty that was so important"
The 29-year old Messi has lost three finals in three years consecutively, the 2014 World Cup finals to Germany in Brazil, Chile in 2015 at the Copa America hosted by Chile and the just concluded 2016 Copa America Centenario to same Chile team in USA. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner though became the national team all-time highest goalscorer when in he scored in the semi-final against the host nation USA but he missed a penalty in the shootout's final as Argentina lost to Chile.
However, there are being calls for him not quit the national team, the FA Boss, others such as Diego Maradona who is one of the greatest footballers of all-time that once coached Messi during his time as national team manager for two years said through La Nacion "Messi has to stay in the national team. He will go to Russia in form to be world champion," "He has to rely more on boys who can help take the team forward and less on those who say they have to go. Those who are saying he should quit are doing it so that we won't see what a disaster Argentine football has become."
Argentine could witnessed many of the current players to quits, It has been four finals that they have lost. "it has been four finals. It was what I most wanted. It didn't work out. I think that's it. It's what I feel now, what I think. There is great sadness, I missed the penalty that's it." Messi further echoed.
To buttressed the players' pains, Sergio Aguero said "We are all messed up. But that's the worst I have seen Leo. He did everything he could to get us here. But Messi probably won't be the only one to quit the national team. Several us are thinking about not carrying on." Now remember Aguero statement during the Copa America in Chile last year "It would be a failure if this generation of players didn't win anything"
According to reports emanating from Argentina, before some supporters continue to treat Messi harshly simply because he has never played club football in his homeland and as well not won any trophy since he started playing for the senior national team. So the like of Mascherano, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria along some other players could follow Messi out of the nation team.
These set of players along with Messi has only won trophies for Argentina at youth level.
* Under-20 World cup in 2005 against Nigeria
* Olympic gold title with U-23 in 2008 against Nigeria as well.
Argentine could witnessed many of the current players to quits, It has been four finals that they have lost. "it has been four finals. It was what I most wanted. It didn't work out. I think that's it. It's what I feel now, what I think. There is great sadness, I missed the penalty that's it." Messi further echoed.
To buttressed the players' pains, Sergio Aguero said "We are all messed up. But that's the worst I have seen Leo. He did everything he could to get us here. But Messi probably won't be the only one to quit the national team. Several us are thinking about not carrying on." Now remember Aguero statement during the Copa America in Chile last year "It would be a failure if this generation of players didn't win anything"
According to reports emanating from Argentina, before some supporters continue to treat Messi harshly simply because he has never played club football in his homeland and as well not won any trophy since he started playing for the senior national team. So the like of Mascherano, Gonzalo Higuain and Angel Di Maria along some other players could follow Messi out of the nation team.
These set of players along with Messi has only won trophies for Argentina at youth level.
* Under-20 World cup in 2005 against Nigeria
* Olympic gold title with U-23 in 2008 against Nigeria as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment