Did you see Messi stand alone as Argentina limped off the field? The stunned squad wore sour expressions after the Copa América Centenario final loss to Chile, while the Argentine captain stepped forward, announcing his departure from the national side. His frustration ignited a months‑long shockwave across Argentine football.
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It was Messi’s fourth defeat in a final wearing the Albiceleste. The tally already included the 2007 Copa América, the 2014 Brazil World Cup, the 2015 Chile Copa América and the 2016 Centenario staged in the United States. That night, Argentine football faced one of its darkest moments.
The player declared, “It’s best for everyone, especially me. My time with the national team is over, a decision I’ve made after countless attempts to win it all.” He added, “Four finals, and none for me; I craved this trophy more than anything, but it slipped away.”
He continued, “It hurts badly, but the choice is final. I won’t try again, no turning back.” Messi recalled missing the first penalty that could have tipped the balance. Critics then blamed his Barcelona form and off‑field tensions, ignoring that without his influence Argentina had never reached those four finals.
I tried endlessly to lift a title, yet it never came; I wanted an Olympic‑level triumph, but fate denied it. He confessed the pain of losing three consecutive finals, saying, “It hurts like nothing else, leaving without a trophy feels hollow.” In my view, his brief retirement exposed the fragile ego of modern superstars.
Will Messi finally lead Argentina to glory?
Edgardo Bauza persuaded Messi to reconsider, urging a return to the Albiceleste. Two months later, on September 1, 2016, the ‘La Pulga’ scored the lone goal in a 1‑0 win over Uruguay in Mendoza, confirming the talk’s impact.