Lionel Messi has rescinded his decision to quit as captain of Argentina, reversing his decision in June to retire from international soccer.
The Barcelona forward said he would not play for Argentina again after the team lost to Chile in the final of the Copa America in the United States. However, in a statement on Friday, Messi explained that he wanted to continue representing his country as he preferred “to help from within”.
“I consider there to be a lot of problems in Argentine football and it’s not my intention to create another one,” the 29-year-old said. “There are a lot of issues that need to be resolved in Argentine football but I prefer to help from within and not to criticise from the outside.
“A lot of things went through my mind on the night of the final and I gave serious thought to quitting but my love for my country and this shirt is too great,” the player said. Messi will be named in new coach Edgardo Bauza’s squad to face Uruguay and Venezuela in 2018 World Cup, South American qualifiers to be held in the first week of September.
Bauza was in Barcelona on Thursday for a meeting with his team captain. Meanwhile, Messi has lost in three consecutive finals while on duty with the Argentina national team.
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