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.
‘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.
