Earlier this morning I watched Chile beat Argentina 4-2 in penalties for Copa America. One of the highlights was, of course, Messi's off target miss in penalties which utterly destroyed him.
Now fast forward a few hours, Messi announced to media that he is retiring from representing Argentina in international duties.
"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 said after defeat by Chile at the Copa America. "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,"
What do you football/soccer fans out there think? Is this an overreaction? Does he have to win at least one major international competition to truly be the greatest?
Remember, let's keep this civil and free of any Ronaldo v.s Messi arguments. Thanks in advance haha.
Severe overreaction. I'm sure his advisors will get him back to playing for Argentina. He's just frustrated.
Ya basically^, he's only 29 and has a few more tournaments left in him. He also has gone to three straight finals with Argentina, so he's not doing too bad.
And Messi is without a doubt one of the greatest to ever play, whether or not he wins anything with Argentina.
Haha I agree, regardless of what Maradona says.
Totally agree. I really don't see how he misses a WC in his (somewhat) prime. The guy's a competitor and he's gonna get over this -- not to mention the advisors, as you said. But Argentinian fans are brutal, too.
I'm Brazilian and I like anything that weakens Argentina, but Messi is as close as you get to perfection right now. Love the legacy of 4 lost tourney finals, though, and 3 in a row (sorry).
Yeah, I heard similar comments from other Brazilians, too. I think overall, Messi has just been incredibly unlucky int he finals and, although you may disagree, I sometimes feel like he's constantly carrying the Argentinean team on his back.
But I agree, after having see Ronaldo in this Eurocup and having seen Messi play unbelievably again, I agree Messi is one hell of a player and there shouldn't be any debate as to who is the better player.
I find it odd that he quits international football. He is very successful and I would think he wont give up because of a setback. But then again he is human and there is a break point in all of us. His is just loosing 3 finals in three years for your country. Love him anyway unlike ronaldo
Hahaha the Ronaldo jabs are starting! Jokes aside, do you think he quit because he can't get over his personal hump or because he can't handle the weight of an entire nation? Mind you, the refereeing was terrible this match.
To be honest i think its everything. The pressure of a nation, a great idol to follow in terms of maradona and the question of why has he won everything at his club and not his country would always be asked. . I think his talent are a blessing and a curse-PRESSURE
He's just a bit salty; he'll be back.
a friend of mine here (American) said it best: "Hope all you Messi hating Argentines are happy now. Be careful what you wish for."
i'm live in Argentina so obviously that was extra hard to watch. i haven't seen the papers here yet but i can't imagine the level to which they're tearing him to shreds
i dont know the full story but i'm sure he'll be back - that was his way to quickly diffuse the situation. Some Argentines HATE him for how he performs international (more specifically in the finals) and they have this idea that he can't be great until he wins a championship for Argentina, coupled with the fact that there's continued spite for him leaving here so young (~14), winning so many championships for Barca, and having some Argentines question how "Argentine" he actually is.
What else... -Chile is underrated, obviously, this is a great Argentine team but Chile is solid as well (they won this tourney last year). -This Argentine team has been playing REALLY well, particularly on defense, they'll be strong for 2018, i hope
EDIT holy shit, a bunch of players are talking "retiring" from the international team as well... GREAT
From another friend, he nails it on the head: "I don't think he'll come back. And I don't blame him and the others. The argentine federation needs to change and need to get over the whole 'Maradona is a God' mentality. I think that's why a lot of these players are retiring, when Maradona made his statement, the argentine FA did come out and defend the players or even condemn Maradonas comments right before a final!"
This line of thinking makes no sense... If Messi doesn't go to Barca, he doesn't get the hormone treatments he needed to grow. He's already small (listed at 5'7''...), without that he doesn't have the size to be compete.
i didn't word that properly, i'm gonna edit that statement
I'm curious, what do Argentines think of Higuain? http://www.marca.com/en/football/international-football/2016/06/27/5771…
Do not think he will be back. Anyway, it is obviously an overreaction.
As Kevin Plank would say this is "Loser Talk". Ronaldo is guilty of it too. They're on amazing club teams that win all of the time, so it inflates their sense of superiority. When they actually have to play on a team that gets challenged and doesn't win they call it quits and blame teammates and everyone else.
I think AndyLouis 's friend hits the nail on the head. Argentine's are stuck (like so many other sports-loving nations) in this old vs new school mentality. I feel for Messi (even as a CR fan), to a lesser extent it's like the LeBron/Jordan dispute here, except in Messi's case, Maradona/(Jordan) actively and openly criticizes him, instead of embracing the fact that he's made the world care about Argentina('s soccer team) again.
Just once it would be cool to real about Messi or Cristiano on the internet and not IMMEDIATELY have it turn into a debate about who is better.
CRE there can be no question that Messi is better, he is the far superior playmaker of the two, and is also a better free kick taker. I am just really sad that he couldn't bring a trophy to Argentina yet, they would've probably beaten Germany if Higuain wasn't a fk up/ Aguero wasn't constantly injured. I was rooting for him (after USA) to win the Copa, it is like he is cursed to only win with Barca.
From my understanding the Argentina Football is in complete disarray. Along with Messi, 6 or 7 other starters have also threatened/announced their resignation from the national team. This may just be some sort of threat so that the Argentinian association can get themselves together. Wouldn't surprise me if we saw most of these players playing in September against Uruguay.
Mascherano's out too along with Aguero apparently. Damn.
It was rumoured him, Aguero and Di maria are out. Is Mascherano confirmed?
It's what I saw at least: http://www.101greatgoals.com/news/after-leo-messi-quits-sergio-aguero-j… https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/1347847/argentina-stars-sergio-…
They are all overreacting because they lost again to Chile at the penalties. Let them have a vacation and recharge the batteries.
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