Messi quits international

Lionel Messi retired from international duty after missing in a penalty shootout in the Copa America final

 

  image source-getty image

 Lionel Messi sensationally quits Argentina
team after losing third final in three years

The 29-year-old forward has said he is to retire from international football
Shock announcement came after Argentina lost in Copa America final

It was the fourth time that Messi has lost a final with the national side
Sergio Aguero and Javier Mascherano also considering their retirement

A heartbroken Lionel Messi has declared he is retiring from international football, sending the
national team into disarray.
 

The forward missed a penalty in the Copa America Centenario final shoot-out against Chile as his
team lost their third final in three years.
 

Messi, who was in tears after the match, spoke after the game to Argentine television and explained
his decision.

The forward was in tears after Argentina were beaten by Chile in Sunday's Copa America final

 'That's it. It's over for me with the national team,'
he explained.
 

'It's not for me. That's four finals. The decision
has been made, I think so. [Winning] is what I
wanted most. It didn't come. I think that's it.
That's how I feel now, what I think. It's a great
sadness. It hurts not to be a champion.'
 

Messi may yet change his mind, but for now the
constant disappointment with his national side
and his long-term discontent with the AFA
(Argentine Football Association) have led to this reaction.
 

Sergio Aguero revealed that other players could be considering their futures with the side too, and
Sportsmail have learned Javier Mascherano could be one of the stars who may quit.

•  INTERNATIONAL RECORD

Debut: vs Hungary 2005
Appearances: 112
Goals: 55
Finals: Copa America 2007, 2015, 2016
World Cup 2014