Why Lionel Messi is quitting Argentina鈥檚 national team
A distraught Lionel Messi said Argentina's third straight loss in the Copa finals marked the last time he would play with the national team.
Lionel Messi reacts after missing a shot during the shoot out round against Chile in 2016 Copa America finals.
Adam Hunger/Reuters
Lionel Messi has had enough losing with Argentina鈥檚 national team.
The 29-year-old Barcelona star said he would probably not be playing for the national selection again after losing to Chile in the Copa America on Sunday night.聽
"The first thing that came to my head on the field, and thinking about it in the locker room, was that it鈥檚 over: I鈥檓 done with the national team,鈥� in the locker room after the game.
The 4-2 loss on penalty kicks, following a 0-0 draw, was the fourth disappointment in major international finals for Argentina鈥檚 national team.
鈥淲e鈥檝e ended up losing in four finals, and three in a row.聽 It鈥檚 really a shame, but it has to be this way.聽 We did everything we could, but that鈥檚 it.鈥� he said.
Messi鈥檚 missed penalty was Argentina鈥檚 first in the shootout, and came after a save by his team鈥檚 goalkeeper. The five-time Ballon d鈥橭r winner and two-time FIFA World Player of the Year sent his kick sailing over the crossbar.
Messi鈥檚 retirement from the national team 鈥� if it happens 鈥� could spark a chain of departures. Several of Argentina鈥檚 most important international stars, including Sergio Aguero, Javier Mascherano, and Lucas Biglia may also retire, . Goalkeeper Sergio Romero reacted to the news of Messi鈥檚 decision by suggesting that his teammate had simply spoken 鈥渋n the heat of the moment because a good opportunity passed us by鈥�.
But a distraught Messi said that his decision was final. 鈥淚t鈥檚 what I feel right now. I鈥檓 really sad that this is happening again. I was the one who missed the penalty, which was really important.鈥�
鈥淚 think [my retirement] is best for everyone.聽 For me and for everyone.聽 There are a lot of people who wanted this, who won鈥檛 be satisfied. We aren鈥檛 satisfied either.鈥�
If the decision really is final, Messi will leave Argentina鈥檚 national team shorthanded in September, when they face off against Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier.聽
The national team鈥檚 last triumph in the Copa, , came nearly 23 years ago in Ecuador, with a gem of a 2-1 victory over Mexico. They fell short last year against Chile 鈥� losing, again, in a shootout 鈥� and in 2014 against Germany, to whom they succumbed 0-1. They were also frustrated by a wider margin in 2007, when Brazil beat them 3-0 in Venezuela.
That meant intense pressure for this year鈥檚 team, who had breezed their way to the finals, steamrolling the United States 4-0 in the semi-final match. Last week, Diego Maradona channeled the national zeitgeist when he commented that he believed Argentina would win, , 鈥渂etter that they don鈥檛 come back鈥�.
Messi is the all-time leading scorer in Copa America matches for the national team, having surpassed Gabriel Batutista鈥檚 previous mark of 54 goals in the game against the US. He has also won under-20 and under-23 Olympic titles with Argentina.