New Delhi: Much to the dismay of several football fans from across the world, Argentine superstar Lionel Messi on Monday announced retirement from international football.
"For me the national team is over. I`ve done all I can, it hurts not to be a champion," the 29-year-old Barcelona superstar told reporters after his fourth defeat in a major final with Argentina.
Earlier, defending champions Chile stunned Argentina to win the Copa America Centenario in a penalty shoot-out here Sunday as Lionel Messi`s title curse struck again.
Messi blazed a penalty over the bar in the shoot-out before Lucas Biglia missed to leave Chile`s Francisco Silva with the task of stroking home the winning spot-kick at the MetLife Stadium.
Here is the video of Messi' miss:
It was a carbon copy of last year`s Copa America final, also won by Chile on penalties after a goalless draw.
Argentina`s players meanwhile were left disconsolate as they digested a third defeat in a major final following losses to Germany in the 2014 World Cup and Chile in last year`s Copa.
The defeat also ensured Argentina`s 23-year wait for a major title -- and a first for five-time world player of the year Messi -- continued.
The final had gone to penalties after finishing deadlocked at 0-0 after 120 minutes.
Both sides were reduced to 10 men in the first half as Brazilian referee Heber Lopes struggled to get a grip on an ill-tempered contest played in front of a crowd of 82,026.
