
Lionel Messi is distraught and could not contain his tears after missing his first-ever penalty shot at the Copa América final match Sunday night. After a tight and nerve-racking rematch game between Argentina and Chile, the Chilean National Team nabbed the Centenario trophy for second year in a row with a score of 4-2 in the penalties round. Messi, on the other hand, felt like a big failure and even confirmed his retirement from the Argentina National Team.
"I'm done playing with the national team," he told a group of reporters in the locker rooms, reports 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."
Messi's teammate, Sergio Agüero, might also call it quits, revealing that he and other players might not play with the national team anymore following their loss.
"Some (players) in the locker room are looking really bad; I don't think they'll continue with the national team. If you think about it, creating opportunities for other players is a good thing for the national team," he said to reporters, according to ESPN.
"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," 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.
As for die-hard Messi fans? They are not content with his decision of leaving the team and have even made #NoTeVayasLio (Don't Leave Lio) a trending topic on Twitter Monday morning. This is how some fans have reacted to his retirement decision.
Some Picture doesn't need any description.. We Love You #NoTeVayasLio #Messi. pic.twitter.com/eK6XH7suEH
— Sid_son (@rd_addiction) June 27, 2016
No Te Vayas Lio,Dale! No Sos Culpable De Nada,Jugadores Como Vos No Se Ven Todos Los Días.TE BANCAMOS #NoTeVayasLio pic.twitter.com/T4xRfIYJEr
— Natii♡ (@NatyOrtiz_Ok123) June 27, 2016
Prefiero Que Perdamos Copas Antes Que Se Vallan Ustedes #NoTeVayasMashe #NoTeVayasLio _ Gracias Por Cada Alegría _ pic.twitter.com/UpoDCfEVTg
— ▷▷Milagros◁◁ (@MiliAlmada_) June 27, 2016
@_10_lionelmessi don't go, the world cup won't be the same without you. Don't let critics define your career! #DontGoMessi #NoTeVayasLio
— Diana A. (@a_RoyalAffair) June 27, 2016
Los que t critican te envidian
— Jose Maria Di Bello (@josedibello) June 27, 2016
Los que t envidian te admiran
Si te admiran es que quieren ser como vos#NoTeVayasLiopic.twitter.com/Bn3zeoUbl1
Cuando sea grande a mis hijos les voy a hablar de dos grandes heroes #NoTeVayasLio pic.twitter.com/pEB9NrSqd6
— florencia (@VignaMyQueen) June 27, 2016
"se van porque creen que no pueden satisfacer a un país cuando nos llenan de alegría"#NoTeVayasLio #NoTeVayasMasche pic.twitter.com/Z01TqN3Vdd
— paz (@allofyoustyles) June 27, 2016
It's not the time. You've to play more to entertain us.We wanna see more MESSI magic.We want you to play WC 2018 Russia. #NoTeVayasLio #Love
— Sakib Shahrier (@SakibShahrier) June 27, 2016
Prefiero seguir perdiendo finales antes que perderte a vos #NoTeVayasLio pic.twitter.com/qg6C9eOIXB
— Chiape (@GonzaChiapetta) June 27, 2016
Por favor Lio, La selecion no es nada sin vos, mi felicidades verte jugar con la celeste y blanca #NoTeVayasLio pic.twitter.com/1WrMHm2RiM
— permiso&prometo ❤ (@FiamiGonzalez) June 27, 2016
The World Cup won't be the same without you Messi, please stay _ #NoTeVayasLio
— Med~ (@Medmarro) June 27, 2016
Sos un humano con piernas de otro mundo, pero aun asi seguis siendo humano. Todos cometemos errores #NoTeVayasLio pic.twitter.com/n8OYSdDTrN
— Berto (@Valeen0013) June 27, 2016
#NoTeVayasLio
— |Rick (@barclone11022) June 27, 2016
Back to forget the past
Let's begins from zero pic.twitter.com/a3VWQ4mpBD
Prefiero perder miles de copas , miles de partidos , a perder un jugador como vos , sos un crack .. #NoTeVayasLio pic.twitter.com/ByTqmCrDax
— Geraldine Camiolo. (@Geral_Camiolo) June 27, 2016
QUE NADIE TE CORTE LAS ALAS, NO SE LO PERMITAS, NADIE MÁS QUE TÚ CONOCES LO QUE NECESITAS _ #NoTeVayasLio pic.twitter.com/ROPeC4oy9N
— NO TE VAYAS LIO ♡ (@feelsmypurpose) June 27, 2016
No nos dejes. Levanta la cabeza. Seguí peleando. #NoTeVayasLio pic.twitter.com/F4teOoSfa5
— Maria Falagán (@Maria_Falagan) June 27, 2016
Si te vas las canchas repletas preguntan cuando volverás _ #NoTeVayasLio pic.twitter.com/9e2fcyG1fX
— Emanuel #27 (@LautaroCasafus) June 27, 2016
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