Lionel Messi has been urged to reconsider his international retirement by Argentina legend Diego Maradona, who described the state of Argentine football as a 'disaster' after Gerardo Martino's side failed to win yet another major tournament final.
Messi and his Argentina teammates have been dealt heartbreak in major tournament finals three summers running, with all three (World Cup 2014, Copa America 2015, 2016) finishing 0-0 at the end of normal time and being decided in either extra time or on penalties
Messi announced his retirement after Sunday night's shootout defeat to Chile, but Maradona told La Nacion: "Messi has to stay in the national team. He will go to Russia in form to be world champion.
"He has to rely more on boys who can help take the team forward and less on those who say they have to go. Those who are saying he should quit are doing it so that we won't see what a disaster Argentine football has become."
He added: "I am very sorry and very angry with what is happening to Argentine football. We hit bottom, we reached the bottom."
A spokesman for Argentine president Mauricio Macri told AFP that the country's leader had been in touch with arguably its most famous son, saying: "He [Macri] called him and told him how proud he feels of the national team's performance and asked him not to listen to the criticism.”
Macri also tweeted his own message, saying: “I never feel greater pride in our team. I hope the joy of seeing the best in the world will continue for many years more. #NoTeVayasLio.”
Sergio Aguero had said after the match: “The likelihood is that Messi is not the only one that will leave the national team. There are several players like me that are evaluating whether or not to continue."
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