LIONEL MESSI SENSATIONALLY announced his retirement from international football last night after missing a penalty in Argentina’s Copa America final shoot-out defeat to Chile.
The Barcelona superstar was distraught after missing his spot-kick as Chile snatched victory — Messi’s fourth straight defeat in a major final while representing Argentina.
“For me the national team is over,” the crestfallen 29-year-old told reporters.
“I’ve done all I can, I’ve been in four finals and it hurts not to be a champion.
“It’s a hard moment for me and the team, and it’s difficult to say, but it’s over with the Argentina team.”
Messi’s dramatic announcement followed Argentina’s third loss in a major final since 2014.
They were beaten 1-0 by Germany in the final of the World Cup in 2014 and lost on penalties, also to Chile, in the final of the 2015 Copa America. Messi also tasted defeat with Argentina in the final of the 2007 Copa America.
Despite a glittering career that has seen him be named Fifa World Player of the Year on no fewer than five occasions, Messi has often faced baffling criticism from Argentina fans.
Although universally regarded as one of the greatest footballers ever, he has regularly been criticised for his failure to land a major title in the colours of Argentina.
Messi’s failure to match the achievements in the Argentina jersey of Diego Maradona, who single-handedly carried the team to victory in the 1986 World Cup, has often been held against him.
Maradona himself has often taken potshots at Messi, criticizing him on the eve of the tournament for a perceived “lack of personality.”
He’s a really good person, but he has no personality,” Maradona said in Paris shortly before the start of Euro 2016.
“He lacks the character to be a leader.”
Messi’s bombshell decision comes after a gruelling season which was disrupted by injury last year.
He recovered to help Barcelona win the Spanish title once more and was relishing the prospect of leading Argentina to glory in the Copa America Centenario.
His commitment to playing for Argentina was reflected in his decision to fly from Spain to Argentina for a low-key friendly against Honduras shortly before the tournament, where he suffered a back injury.
He then returned to Spain to give evidence at his trial for tax fraud before jetting off to the United States to join up with his Argentina team-mates.
The final had gone to penalties after finishing deadlocked at 0-0 after 120 minutes.
Both sides were reduced to 10 men in the first half as Brazilian referee Heber Lopes struggled to get a grip on an ill-tempered contest played in front of a crowd of 82,026.
Argentina might have taken the lead on 21 minutes when a defensive blunder from Gary Medel, miscontrolling a back pass, allowed Gonzalo Higuain to go clean through on goal. Higuain had time and space but opted to lift his shot over the advancing Bravo and it rolled wide of the post in a huge let-off for Chile.
It was a nightmarish case of deja vu for Higuain, who missed potentially match winning chances in both the 2014 World Cup final and last year’s Copa America.
Seven minutes later Chile were left rocking when Messi burst forward only to be bodychecked blatantly by Diaz. For a moment it appeared that referee Lopes had forgotten Diaz’s earlier caution as he stood for an age with the yellow card raised, but eventually he brandished a red card and Chile were down to 10.
Two minutes from half-time and Lopes was reaching for another red card, this time sending off Manchester United’s Marcos Rojo for a rough tackle on Vidal.
The cards continued in a fractious start to the second half. The introduction of Sergio Aguero for Higuain had little effect with Argentina failing to break the stalemate.
Chile striker Eduardo Vargas went close on the 80th minute, thumping a fierce low shot that Romero did well to block at his near post. Aguero had a chance to steal victory in the 84th minute when he was worked into space on the right of the box but he blazed his shot high and wide.
There was still time for late drama when Ramiro Funes-Mori made a stunning match-saving block to deny Alexis Sanchez and from the Argentinian counter-attack, Messi surged forward from halfway to shoot wide.
Amid suffocating tension in extra-time, Chile had the best early chance to score in the 98th minute when he headed Edson Puch’s cross only to be denied by Romero. Aguero then drew a fine save from Bravo with a looping header.
After that there was little in the way of chances, leaving the game to hinge on the penalty shoot-out.
Messi, with what he says was his last act in international football, blazed his penalty over the bar before Lucas Biglia missed to leave Chile’s Francisco Silva with the task of stroking home the winner.
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