Diego Maradona makes plea to Lionel Messi not to retire
Lionel Messi missed his penalty as Argentina lose to Chile
Argentina legend Diego Maradona and the country's President Mauricio Macri have urged Lionel Messi not to quit the national team.
The Barcelona superstar left the field in tears after missing a spot-kick in the Copa America Centenario final shoot-out against Chile on Sunday.
He promptly announced his retirement from football.
Maradona told La Nacion newspaper: "He has to stay because he still has playing days ahead of him.
Just two days after Lionel Messi said he'd never play for his country again, a statue of him has been unveiled in Buenos Aires.
"He will go to Russia [2018 World Cup] in form to be world champion."
Messi is widely rated as the best player in the world, but Sunday's loss was his fourth defeat in an international final for Argentina.
Messi ended his international career after the defeat
After an outpouring of disappointment by fans online, Macri joined the calls for the 29-year-old to stay with Argentina.
"He called him and told him how proud he feels of the national team's performance and asked him not to listen to the criticism," a spokesman for Macri said.
Diego Maradona says Messi should play at the 2018 World Cup
And the President tweeted: "More than ever I feel great pride for our team. I hope we can continue to have the joy of seeing the world's best player for many years."
The 1986 World Cup winner Maradona, 55, blamed Argentina's recent lack of trophies on the country's football association (AFA).
Messi sits on the ground in dejection after being defeated by Chile
He accused it of not supporting Messi and letting him take the blame for Sunday's defeat.
"Those who are saying he should quit are doing it so that we won't see what a disaster Argentine football has become," Maradona said.
Messi has been begged by Maradona to continue playing for Argentina
After Sunday's final, Messi's usual composure gave way to tears of frustration.
"I've done all I can, I've been in four finals and it hurts not to be a champion," Messi said. "It's a hard moment for me and the team, and it's difficult to say, but it's over with the Argentina team."
Argentina's football captain Lionel Messi spoke of retirement from international football after losing 4–2 to Chile in the penalty decider in Copa América Centenario final on Sunday. Since then, many players including his present FC Barcelona teammate Luis Suárez, former teammates  and , former Argentina captain , and Argentine president  have expressed disappointment, some urging him to stay.
File photo of Lionel Messi after a loss in 2014. 
Messi missed the penalty kick after Chilean 's spot kick was stopped by  as the match progressed to a penalty shootout.  and Sergio Agüero scored their spot kicks for Argentina, but after 's penalty was saved by ,  scored the winning penalty for Chile.

Messi was crying after the match, and later told news reporters, . He added, .

Today, Suárez speaking to '''' said, "Knowing Leo, I'm sure it was said in a moment of sadness and helplessness. It would be a shame for football if he took this decision, but I'm sure he will reconsider and change his mind."

Yesterday, president Mauricio Macri and Maradona urged him to think about his decision.
 
Messi's former teammate  said, "It's very bad news for soccer. Messi is the best player in the world. ... I don't know what happened in his mind... I know he's strong, a professional player, he's sure now disappointed because he lost one more final in penalty kicks again."

Ronaldinho, former Brazilian player and ex-Barcelona player, told  he respects Messi's opinion and he would be always with him.

Five time World Player of the Year Messi has lost four finals on the international stage, of which three defeats came in the last three years — 2014 FIFA World Cup loss to Germany, last year's loss to Chile, and this year's.

Sergio Agüero told Argentine newspaper '''' other players were also deciding weather to hang up their boots.

Messi played for Argentina when they won the 2008 Beijing Olympics gold medal.


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