After disappointed to not winning The Copa America Cup, the frustated Lionel Messi said he is planning to retire International soccer.
“My thinking right now and thinking about it in the locker room, I’m done playing with the national team,” Messi told a group of reporters, including ESPN’s Diego Monroig.
Asked if he was retiring, Messi said: “I tried my hardest. It’s been four finals and I was not able to win. I tried everything possible; it hurts me more than anyone, but it is evident that this is not for me.
“I want more than anyone to win a title with the national team, but unfortunately it did not happen.”
Messi, who lost the 2014 World Cup final and three Copa America final games while playing for Argentina, was then asked if he would ever wear his country’s shirt again.
“I don’t think so,” he said. “I’ve thought about it; like I said earlier, I tried everything possible to win. And that’s it, it’s four finals lost.”
Messi’s Argentina teammates were rocked by the news, with goalkeeper Sergio Romero saying that the No. 10 may have made a hasty decision.
“I think that Leo spoke in the heat of the moment, because a good opportunity passed us by,” Romero said.
“Lamentably, the most f—– up is Leo because of the penalty. It’s the worst I’ve seen him in the dressing room,” Sergio Aguero added.
The news comes off the back of Messi criticizing the Argentine soccer federation (AFA) ahead of the final and revealing in a press conference on Friday that he had a backlog of complaints with the AFA.
Argentina manager Gerardo Martino, who had not heard about Messi’s retirement when he spoke to the press after the match, urged his entire squad to continue playing for the Albiceleste despite their frustrations with the AFA.
Las lágrimas de Leo Messi.#CopaAmerica #Copa100https://t.co/JIfTCgPA7g
— La casa del fútbol (@casadelfutbol) June 27, 2016
“My impression is that they don’t have any reason not to continue. We’re in the middle of a very difficult World Cup qualification, which will continue in September,” Martino said.
“Besides, they’ve done well. They don’t have too much to scold themselves over.
“Regarding the political situation, there’s not much to say. It’s the same situation that’s been going on for the last six months. The result doesn’t change our view of these past six months or the problems that may have arisen.
“There is a political matter here that has to do with those in charge of the destiny of Argentine football at the moment, and those who aspire to do so … none of this has had any impact on us or can be used as an excuse, because we reached the final and we should’ve won it.
“[Messi] is the way any footballer must be when he gets to the final and then loses. Certainly, to lose again is too painful to assume a posture that’s any different than that, either on the field or in the dressing room.”