Heartbroken Lionel Messi has announced he is retiring from international football after failing to become Copa America champion again with Argentina, as well as missing a crucial penalty.He fired his spot-kick over the bar in the decisive shootout to continue the Albiceleste's 23-year cup drought.The Barcelona forward has decided to hang up his boots for his country after losing his third Copa America final as well as the 2014 World Cup final.
"I tried so hard to be champions with Argentina but I couldn't do it and we are not satisfied with reaching the final and not winning," he said."It's difficult, it's hard to analysis but in the dressing room I thought it was over for me with the national team, it's not for me."That's how I'm feeling right now, it's another huge sadness and I missed my penalty that was so very important.
"The 29-year-old, who is his country's top scorer with 55 goals, captain and star player, is leaving after 113 games and 11 years.In this time he has played four Copa America's - runners-up in 2007,2015 and now 2016 - and one World Cup in 2014, when tA hey were beaten by Germany in extra time.The five times winner of the Ballon d'Or is the all-time top scorer at Barcelona and in La Liga, with 453 goals for his club, 312 of which have come in the domestic tournament.An impressive 28 trophies including eight league titles, four Champions League and four Copa del Rey soften the blow of not being able to add to this for Argentina.
Teammate and Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero said the mood in the dressing room was the worst he had seen.The news has caused a huge commotion in Argentina with fans being asked to follow the team using the hashtag #Notevayas - don't go.
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