Lionel Messi emotionally announced his retirement from international football on Sunday after Argentina crashed to defeat against Chile in the Copa America Centenario final.

A crestfallen Messi confirmed his decision to quit after yet another agonising near-miss with Argentina, who have now lost three major tournament finals in a row since 2014.

He said...

"It's a hard moment for me and the team, and it's difficult to say, but its over with the Argentina team," said Messi, who was also on the losing side in the final of the 2007 Copa America.

"I've done all I can, I've been in four finals and it hurts not to be a champion," the 29-year-old five-time world footballer of the year added.

Messi had earlier been left distraught after missing Argentina's opening penalty in the shoot-out at MetLife Stadium after the two teams had finished extra-time deadlocked at 0-0.

http://www.lasgidionline.com.ng/2016/06/breaking-news-lionel-messi-retires-from.html

lalasticlala

Eh ya. Pele!

......

is mod a messi fan?.....how on earth has this not made fp

MESSI oo ooo...

Lalasticlala

Ndo nwa'm

Ronaldo may never win the world cup or Euros, buh he'll never quit prematurely.

That's a matured and COMPLETE footballer

God bless ORORO! !!!

Eyah sorry world best. I will advise you shouldn't bow out now without winning major trophy for County.

Though Argentines believe Messi is more committed to Barcelona than the country.

I believe Messi will be re-invited very soon.

Football greats aren't even rating Ronaldo with Maradona and Pele, but Messi is.

After losing in four different finals, it's a big blow for the midget and will always be rated behind Maradona and Pele.

I don't support him retiring, he'd have still waited for Worldcup 2018.

Where is the spirit of sportsmanship? Is it all about winning? If we all quit for losing who will play the sports? If we all quit in life when we lose, we'd be failures.

I guess Messi has become a failure if he can't dust himself up after falling.