Football star Messi retires from Argentine team

/Courtesy of Twitter

By Lee Han-soo

World football star Lionel Messi, 29, has announced his retirement from the Argentine national team.

The announcement came after the team’s bitter defeat in the Copa America final against Chile.

Argentina lost the championship cup 2-4 after a penalty shootout at Metslife stadium in New Jersey on Monday. Messi, who was the first kicker in the shootout, failed to score.

“I am retiring from the national team,” Messi, in tears, said. “Although I gave it my best, it saddens me that we failed to become champions.”

Messi has had some spectacular achievements. He has won eight La Liga titles and been four times a champion in UEFA with Barcelona. But he has been unlucky with the Argentine national team.

Responding to media questions that he may rejoin the national team, Messi said it is “highly unlikely.”