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| Messi taking the penalty kick |
'That's it. It's over for me with
the national team,' he explained.
'It's not for me. That's four
finals. The decision has been made, I think so. [Winning] is what I wanted
most. It didn't come. I think that's it. That's how I feel now, what I think.
It's a great sadness. It hurts not to be a champion.'
Messi may yet change his mind, but
for now the constant disappointment with his national side and his long-term
discontent with the AFA (Argentine Football Association) have led to this
reaction.
Sergio Aguero revealed that other
players could be considering their futures with the side too, and Sportsmail has
learned Javier Mascherano could be one of the stars who may quit.
'Messi probably won't be the only
player to leave the national team,' said Aguero.
'There are various players who are
considering quitting. This is the worst I've seen the dressing room. Worse than
after the other two finals [the 2014 World Cup and 2015 Copa America].'
In 2007 Messi first tasted defeat in
a final with Argentina, losing 3-0 to Brazil in the Copa America.
That was followed by disappointment
against Germany in 2014, plus defeats to Chile two years running in the Copa
America again.
113
- Caps for Argentina.
Debut: vs Hungary 2005.
55 - Goals for Argentina. His five
goals in the 2016 Copa America saw him pass Gabriel Batistuta as his nation's
all-time leading scorer.
Finals: Copa America 2007, 2015,
2016; World Cup 2014.
170 - Messi's height in centimetres
(5ft 6in).
72 - Messi's weight in kilograms
(11st 5lbs).
47 - Seconds into his Argentina
debut before he was sent off, against Hungary in 2005, aged 18, after coming on
as a substitute.
2008 - Olympic gold in Beijing is
Messi's only major international honour.
453 - Goals for Barcelona, in 531
games, including a Primera Division record of 312 goals.
8 - Primera Division titles with
Barcelona.
4 - Champions League wins with
Barca.
5 - Times he has won the FIFA Ballon
d'Or, as the world's best player (in 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2015).
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