Lionel Messi broke down in tears Sunday night as Argentina suffered another tournament heartbreak to Chile at Metlife stadium. The lasting moment of the Copa America Centenario may be Messi missing in the penalty kick shootouts and then breaking down in tears. But now that may also be the lasting image of the 29-year-old superstar in an Argentina uniform.

Following the loss, Messi, in the heat of the moment, shockingly announced that he is quitting national team.

"It is difficult, the time is hard for any analysis. In the dressing room I thought the selection was completed for me, it is not for me," Messi said, per Argentina's social media account.

#Messi: "Es difícil, el momento es duro para cualquier análisis. En el vestuario pensé que se terminó para mí la Selección, no es para mí".— Selección Argentina (@Argentina) June 27, 2016


More to come as the story develops.
In shocking turn of events, Messi retires from international play.



www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/lionel-messi-quits-argentina-national-team-following-another-final-failure-at-copa-america/

hmmm!

What a very sad ending for his national footballing career!

He had a very excellent beginning for his nation winning the 2005 WYC and Olympic football tournaments in Holland and Beijing resp. Incidentally Nigeria was the opponent defeated in the final of the two events.

I'm tempted to say if Nigeria was opportuned to play and qualify for these football finals, Brazil 2006, Copa America 2015 and 2016, Messi would be celebrating 3 consecutive medals for his country this morning.

Messi please don't retire. Messi please fast and pray for Nigeria and Argentina to qualify against all odds and meet in the final of 2018 world cup so that you can celebrate a trophy playing for Argentine national team

Breaking news: "All those fans who were flying high criticising C.Ronaldo in EURO, have now landed so badly and crashed into peaces, after Messi flop in Copa America, sending the ball into another planet as they usually say"

The Barcelona star said he may not represent Argentina again after suffering another final defeat in Sunday's Copa America Centenario deciding match.
Lionel Messi is planning to retire from international soccer after Argentina's loss to Chile in the Copa America Centenario final.


The match finished without goals and went to a penalty shootout, with Messi sending his shot off the mark as Chile topped La Albiceleste 4-2 from the spot.


Argentina fell to Chile in penalties in the 2015 Copa America and lost to Germany in the 2014 World Cup final. Messi also was part of the 2007 Argentina side that lost to Brazil in the final. After the latest defeat, the frustrated player told reporters that he is finished with the national team.


“The national team is over for me. That’s four finals (lost,) it's not for me" Messi sadi after the match. "It’s a made decision, I think."
"I feel a great sadness right now that this is happening again," he said. "I missed my penalty, which was super important. That's it"


m.goal.com/x/en/news/585/argentina/2016/06/27/25093052/lionel-messi-planning-international-retirement-after-copa

This is is a very sad day indeed , no one expected this but personally I saw it coming even tho I threw my weight behind the boys from Argentina .
I equally thought Chile could edge it but NO that didn't happen .
Messi have just shown his Weaker side and why he's human also ... He just made Ronaldo a bit more better than him and now Ronaldo will take that opportunity by staying with the Portugal team even after the Euros in France . If that was Ronaldo in a team like Argentina he would never give up , Ronaldo never gives up .
I'm a big time Ronaldo fan but I just had to feel for Lionel Messi ... He deserved a chance with the national team once again .

Today is one of the saddest day in this beautiful game of ours .

He missed a PK and retired. Shame!
Well, only the strong will continue.

What A Coward

Badosqi:
Breaking news: "All those fans who were flying high criticising C.Ronaldo in EURO, have now landed so badly and crashed into peaces, after Messi flop in Copa America, sending the ball into another planet as they usually say"

does it mean Portugal will win the euro

I heard that messi was cursed never to win Argentina a title

erusen:
does it mean Portugal will win the euro

read the post again....... It was a reply to messi buttli.ckers that were criticizing ronaldo after his penalty miss against Austria.

If wishes were horses,he should have substituted his trophy won at Barcelona for Argentina

dollyjuke:
I heard that messi was cursed never to win Argentina a title

Argentina is now the BENFICA of national football. 4 finals with no show.


Copa america final Brazil vs Argentina 2007

World cup final Germany vs Argentina 2014

Copa America final Chile vs Argentina 2015

Copa America final Chile vs Argentina 2016


They all have one thing in common. Figure it out!

Stanleywaxy:
This is is a very sad day indeed , no one expected this but personally I saw it coming even tho I threw my weight behind the boys from Argentina .
I equally thought Chile could edge it but NO that didn't happen .
Messi have just shown his Weaker side and why he's human also ... He just made Ronaldo a bit more better than him and now Ronaldo will take that opportunity by staying with the Portugal team even after the Euros in France . If that was Ronaldo in a team like Argentina he would never give up , Ronaldo never gives up .
I'm a big time Ronaldo fan but I just had to feel for Lionel Messi ... He deserved a chance with the national team once again .

Today is one of the saddest day in this beautiful game of ours .

Argentina FA and Fans are giving him tough time as if na only him dey team.....Unlike Ronaldo who enjoys home support.... I think it's just an emotional statement.. losing 3 finals! He can't quit yet..they will beg him to carry-on

What is the usefulness of winning 7-0, 4-0, 5-0 and scoring hat tricks, doubles if you can't win a tournament.


Argentina have scored a massive 0 goals in 4 straight finals.

Brazil 3-0 Arg 2007 copa final

Germany 1-0 Arg 2014 world cup final

Chile 0-0 Arg 2015 copa final

Chile 0-0 Arg 2016 copa final.

adioolayi:


Argentina FA and Fans are giving him tough time as if na only him dey team.....Unlike Ronaldo who enjoys home support.... I think it's just an emotional statement.. losing 3 finals! He can't quit yet..they will beg him to carry-on

4 finals actually. 2007 Copa america final.

men sad for him, but hopefully he will change his mind. If not at least he did his best

Retire ke He must fight on...

But four finals ahah na curse o

I know he only said it out of frustration, he is going to come back stronger.Retiring now will make him look like a quitter considering Ronaldo is still doing his thing for Portugal so he wouldn't want to look like he gave up easily.He will surely changed his mind.But feel for him dou his supporting offensive players are always letting him down.

amauri:
I know he only said it out of frustration, he is going to come back stronger.Retiring now will make him look like a quitter considering Ronaldo is still doing his thing for Portugal so he wouldn't want to look like he gave up easily.He will surely changed his mind.But feel for him dou his supporting offensive players are always letting him down.

I also think that he will change his mind. He made retirement statement cause of disappointment and frustration of losing another final. He made the decision too fast though he claimed that it wasn't because of the copa loss.

World cup 2018 is just 2 years from now. Another opportunity to win an international trophy. Messi will represent Argentina at Russia 2018.

Ndo nwa'm

Ronaldo may never win the world cup or Euros, buh he'll never quit prematurely.

That's a matured and COMPLETE footballer

God bless ORORO! !!!

Y'all should stop comparing GOAT Messi with Ronaldo. He doesn't care what Ronaldo thinks about his decision to retire.

Feranchek:
Ndo nwa'm

Ronaldo may never win the world cup or Euros, buh he'll never quit prematurely.

That's a matured and COMPLETE footballer

God bless ORORO! !!!

Ronaldo is a good player. But has Ronaldo ever reached 4 finals with Portugal? Back to back? So you have any idea how frustrating it is? Losing those 4?

Alexis made him retire from international football

E pain am! 4th ballon d'or don sure for ronaldo jare

I had a feeling this would happen

Toluwarni:
Ronaldo is a good player. But has Ronaldo ever reached 4 finals with Portugal? Back to back? So you have any idea how frustrating it is? Losing those 4?

Lol. So you mean NEVER getting to the final is a motivation Bros, there's enough brain to go around biko, GET SOME!

MESSI missed a penalty in final and decided to quit... i ve missed a lot of opportunities in BET9JA and didnt quit

Toluwarni:
Ronaldo is a good player. But has Ronaldo ever reached 4 finals with Portugal? Back to back? So you have any idea how frustrating it is? Losing those 4?

Y wunt he reach four finals when copa America don turn yearly competition

adioolayi:


Argentina FA and Fans are giving him tough time as if na only him dey team.....Unlike Ronaldo who enjoys home support.... I think it's just an emotional statement.. losing 3 finals! He can't quit yet..they will beg him to carry-on

3 finals keh , he was in the Copa finals in 2007 .

CuteDude53:
MESSI missed a penalty in final and decided to quit... i ve missed a lot of opportunities in BET9JA and didnt quit

You call that a miss ? He sent it to the moon . He's left leg doesn't favour penalties at all ... give him a free kick rather than a Penalty kick