Messi retires from international football

It is once again proved that talent need not guarantee success. The talismanic Argentine forward who has scored a whopping 453 times in 531 games, which includes a record 312 goals in La Liga has failed to win a single tournament for his national team.

After the fourth successive final defeat that Argentina suffered on Monday in the Copa America final, one of the greatest players of the era, Lionel Messi, decided to hang up his boots from international football.

It was hard to believe that it was the same man who missed the penalty on Monday also scored that gem of a free-kick against the USA in the semis. Besides, Messi has never been more of a player who has risen to the occasion to rescue his national team in times of need.

Argentina was beaten 1-0 in the 2014 World Cup final by Germany before two Copa America final defeats by Chile on penalties. Messi was also on the losing side against Brazil in the 2007 Copa America final.

“It’s not meant for me. For me, the national team is over. I’ve done all I can, it hurts not to be a champion,” the 29-year-old forward said.

“It’s been four finals, I tried. It was the thing I wanted the most, but I couldn’t get it, so I think it’s over,” he added. I think this is best for everyone. First of all for me, and then for everyone, I think there’s a lot of people who want this, who obviously are not satisfied, as we are not satisfied reaching a final and not winning it.”

As dismal the defeat was, his decision did not go well with his fans and social media exploded with shocking reactions. Of course, there is the 2018 World Cup which is to be held in Russia where Messi would have got one last chance to cement his place in the history. Many think he would return from the retirement and this was just in the heat of the moment.

Lionel Messi has won the Ballon d’Or award for the world’s best player five times. Often compared to Diego Maradona, Messi has scored more goals (55) than his idol in the national shirt but unfortunately could not deliver the cherished World Cup that Maradona single-handedly won for Argentina in 1986.