EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Lionel Messi sensationally announced his retirement from international football Sunday after Argentina crashed to an upset defeat against Chile in the final of the Copa America.
The heartbroken Barcelona superstar was distraught after missing a spot-kick as Chile snatched victory in a penalty shoot-out – 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.
Although he was injured for his team’s opening group game against Chile, he came on as a substitute in a 5-0 hammering of Panama to score a hat-trick in 19 minutes.
He then equalled Argentina’s international goalscoring record of 54, held by Gabriel Batistuta, in the quarter-finals before setting a new mark with his 55th international goal in the semi-final win over the United States.
Chile’s stunning victory
It was a carbon copy of last year’s Copa America final, also won by Chile on penalties after a goalless draw.
Argentina’s players meanwhile were left disconsolate as they digested a third defeat in a major final following losses to Germany in the 2014 World Cup and Chile in last year’s Copa.
The defeat also ensured Argentina’s 23-year wait for a major title – and a first for five-time world player of the year Messi – continued.
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.
The first yellow card of the match came in the 16th minute when Marcelo Diaz brought down Messi with a cynical hack across the thighs as the Barcelona star advanced on the Chilean goal.
Argentina should have taken the lead on 21 minutes when a defensive blunder from Gary Medel, mis-controlling 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 body-checked blatantly by Diaz.
For a moment it appeared that referee Lopes had forgotten Diaz’s earlier caution but eventually he brandished a red card and Chile were down to 10.
It ought to have been a warning to both sides but the spiteful tone continued for the remainder of the half, with Javier Mascherano and Arturo Vidal next into the book in the 37th minute.
The next flare-up came on 40 minutes when Messi darted into the box at high speed and tumbled over following a collision with Jose Pedro Fuenzalida.
Chile’s players surrounded Lopes demanding a yellow card for a dive and Messi was duly booked even though it looked for all the world as if he had simply gone down after being caught off balance.
Two minutes from half-time and Lopes was reaching for a 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, Jean Beausejour booked for hacking at Gabriel Mercado.
A cynical foul on Messi by Charles Aranguiz resulted in another yellow card.
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.
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.
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