Lionel Messi quits national team after Chile defeat

ISTANBUL

Lionel Messi has said his career in the Argentina national team is over after he missed a penalty kick, prompting his country’s defeat against Chile at the Copa America final on Sunday.

The Argentina captain missed his penalty kick in the vital shootout at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. Chile beat Argentina 4-2 and won the cup.

“For me the national team is over. I've done all I can, It's not meant for me,” the 29 year-old football giant said to Argentine sports network TyC after the match.

“I think it's best for everyone, for me and for many people who want it. The national team is over for me; it's a done decision. I tried many times but did not," he said.

The 29-year-old Barcelona star has worn a uniform 113 times in the national team and kicked 55 goals. He became Argentina’s all-time top goal scorer when he scored in the Copa America semi-final against the United States last week.

However, Messi has never won a major international tournament for his county. Having played in 2014 at the World Cup against Germany and in three Copa America tournaments in 2007, 2015 and 2016, the Argentina national team lost all four of these major finals.

"It is four finals that I've had to lose in the national team, the third in a row, we tried it and we searched for it and it happened," Messi said. "It hurts me like nobody else. I leave without being able to win a title.”

The Copa America usually takes place every four years and this year's 45th tournament aims to celebrate its 100th anniversary.

Messi has won the UEFA Champions League four times, the La Liga eight times, UEFA Super Cup three times, FIFA Club World Cup three times, the King’s Cup (the Copa del Rey) four times and Spanish Super Cup six times in his career since he joined the Barcelona’s youth setup when he was at 13-years-old.