It has been two bittersweet days since Lionel Messi made the sudden decision to leave Argentina's National Soccer Team. The shocking announcement came just moments after missing his first-ever penalty kick and Argentina's loss to Chile at the Copa América 2016 final match.
The 29-year-old FC Barcelona star was caught on camera with a distraught face and tears in his eyes following the nerve-racking game before revealing that he will no longer play with his country's team. "My thinking right now and thinking about it in the locker room, I'm done playing with the national team," he told a group of reporters in the locker rooms, according to ESPN.
"I tried my hardest. It's been four finals, and I was not able to win. I tried everything possible," he continued. "It hurts me more than anyone, but it is evident that this is not for me. I want more than anyone to win a title with the national team, but unfortunately, it did not happen."
His teammates are also bummed. "We are hurting because of Messi -- there's no explanation to what happened to him. He tried it all to get the championship for us. For us, he's still the best player of the world," Sergio Agüero noted, adding that the team did everything they could in the last two Copa América finals, but this year's loss was the toughest to swallow.
Everyone from Ricardo Montaner to Diego Maradona have weighed in on the heartbreaking news, encouraging Messi to not throw in the towel and stay with his team. Die-hard fans even made #NoTeVayasLio (Don't Leave Lio) a worldwide trending topic on Twitter.
Fans, however, are not giving up until they get Messi to have a change of heart. In fact, they have a new approach of getting Messi's attention... via rock lyrics! With the hashtag #MessiConUnaFraseDeRockTeDigo (Messi, with a rock song I tell you), fans are sending encouraging and empowering rock jams to the soccer star. Check some out below!
"ADIOS" - GUSTAVO CERATI
#MessiConUnaFraseDeRockTeDigo
— Viejo del bastón (@Vosolocoviteh) June 28, 2016
Del mismo dolor vendrá un nuevo amanecer pic.twitter.com/AOV1Idxnzl
"DON'T GO AWAY" - OASIS
#MessiConUnaFraseDeRockTeDigo "So don't go away, Say what you say, Say that you'll stay Forever and a day, in the time of my life" (Oasis).
— Cristian Arroyo (@CristiamArroyo) June 28, 2016
"NOBODY SAID IT WAS EASY" - COLDPLAY
#MessiConUnaFraseDeRockTeDigo nobody said it was easy...
— ¡Nαhue! (@NAndrovetto) June 28, 2016
"TODO ES MENTIRA" - LA BERISO
#MessiConUnaFraseDeRockTeDigo ~Que la tristeza se convierta en alegría
— ♡Luci ∞ Micaelista♡ (@MicaV_MiReina) June 28, 2016
y aquellas lágrimas en sonrisas~ pic.twitter.com/9Cuiu93q6O
"JUGANDO" - CALLEJEROS
#MessiConUnaFraseDeRockTeDigo Si creo que todo puede cambiar, ¿como no voy a esperarte? pic.twitter.com/Jecfwr1aDf
— Keviin⚽ (@kevinn_Alvarez) June 28, 2016
"ME VIERON CRUZAR" - CALLE 13
#MessiConUnaFraseDeRockTeDigo Caí con todo el peso, pero si es fuerte la caída más impresionante será TU regreso. pic.twitter.com/NdVooufhkX
— ℙℝ♛ (@SchumannAlan) June 28, 2016
"BOYS DON'T CRY" - THE CURE
#MessiConUnaFraseDeRockTeDigo Boys don't cry! https://t.co/tPlrf5LOmb
— Itamar (@ItamarSalazar) June 28, 2016
"CARNAVAL TODA LA VIDA" - LOS FABULOSOS CADILLACS
#MessiConUnaFraseDeRockTeDigo
— #La7maEsMiObsesión (@fede89lomas) June 28, 2016
♫solo te pido que vuelvas de verdad
y que el silencio
se convierta en carnaval♪ pic.twitter.com/4E9ghLfeic
"CREO" - CALLEJEROS
#MessiConUnaFraseDeRockTeDigo
— Mateo (@MateoPompeiiii) June 28, 2016
Creo en la vida, en la noche, en tu alma y no creo en todo lo demas ❤❤❤ pic.twitter.com/8yXEqernAa
"PERDON" - GUASONES
#MessiConUnaFraseDeRockTeDigo Te pido un favor desde donde estes no me dejes, no me sueltes puedo enloquecer pic.twitter.com/Ovqkq0zc1H
— venus (@MiilagrosPerez) June 28, 2016
"LA RUTA DEL TENTEMPIE" - CHARLY GARCIA
#MessiConUnaFraseDeRockTeDigo "resiste... yo sé que existe amor en tu piel" pic.twitter.com/s9BaSFJFOb
— Fiore (@fiorellapoli) June 28, 2016
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