It is better to retire when people ask why and not when. Messi ends his Argentina run on a sorry note. Argentina played to a plan but lost to Chile in a penalty shootout in the Copa America final and that ended his career rather abruptly. His jersey no 10 is as famous as Sachin Tendulkar’s cricketing gear. The heart broken Barcelona superstar left the field in tears missing a spot kick in shoot out and his team bowed out and Messi’s fourth straight defeat in a major final with Argentina made him distressed. Messi lifted Argentina’s first penalty kick over the crossbar, setting the stage for another loss in a final. Argentina lost to Brazil in the 2007 Copa final and to Germany in extra time in the 2014 World Cup final. They lost last year’s Copa final to host Chile on penalty kicks after a 0-0 draw. The horrifying experience of successive loses and his inability to finish off in style made the magical Messi’s sudden free kick and bowed out on a losing note. Messi took many things in his stride including many wins, losses, criticism and so on but this proved to be the final nail in the coffin and he has decided to retire.
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
