The News
Friday 26 of April 2024

Lionel Messi says He is Quitting Argentina National Team


Argentina's Lionel Messi waits for trophy presentations after the Copa America Centenario championship soccer match, Sunday, June 26, 2016, in East Rutherford, N.J. Chile defeated Argentina 4-2 in penalty kicks to win the championship,photo: AP/Julie Jacobson
Argentina's Lionel Messi waits for trophy presentations after the Copa America Centenario championship soccer match, Sunday, June 26, 2016, in East Rutherford, N.J. Chile defeated Argentina 4-2 in penalty kicks to win the championship,photo: AP/Julie Jacobson
The 29-year-old made the announcement after Argentina lost the Copa America championship to Chile

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Lionel Messi says he is quitting Argentina’s national team.

Argentina and Messi lost a final for the third year in a row, with Chile winning the Copa America 4-2 on penalty kicks following a 0-0 tie Sunday night.

His nation’s career scoring leader with 55 international goals, Messi sent Argentina’s first penalty kick over the crossbar.

Messi tells the Argentine network TyC Sports “the national team is over for me. It’s been four finals, it’s not meant for me. I tried. It was the thing I wanted the most, but I couldn’t get it, so I think it’s over.”

Messi and Argentina lost to Brazil in the 2007 Copa final and to Germany in extra time in the 2014 World Cup final. They lost last year’s Copa final to host Chile on penalty kicks.

The 29-year-old Messi has led Barcelona to four Champions League titles.