EAST RUTHERFORD (Staff Report) – Argentina’s star footballer Lionel Messi has announced his retirement from International Football after his country’s loss in Copa America Championship final on Sunday night.
In a statement, Messi said: “This is a difficult moment for me, however, I have given a thought to it in the locker room and I think my national team career is over now.”
“I have taken this decision for me and the many people who want this to happen, I have tried so hard, but I am now leaving it without managing,” he added.
Argentina faced off against Chile in the final game of the mega event, but lost 4-2 on penalties after the two teams remained goal-less in the given 90-minutes of game time and extra time.
Lionel Messi was the first player to kick a penalty shot for Argentina, which he missed. Chile, later on, netted their remaining four shots while Argentina only managed two.
Lionel Messi, widely regarded as one of the two best footballers in the world, has not been able to win any major tournaments with Argentina, including the FIFA World Cup.
Messi has so far been declared FIFA Player of the Year five times, while he has also won 4 Champions League titles and 8 La Liga crowns with his soccer club Barcelona.
