Messi fails to match Maradona success in Argentina shirt

Argentina’s former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro has pleaded with compatriot Lionel Messi to rethink his shock decision to quit worldwide football.

Argentina lost to Chile on penalties in Sunday’s Copa America final, while Messi missed a spot-kick and was in tears at the final whistle.

Messi has often faced tough criticism in Argentina because he has failed to deliver the country a major title, which he’s done repeatedly for his Barcelona club. “That’s why I want to talk to him, to fight against all those who abandoned him”, said Maradona, who coached Messi and Argentina at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

“I want him be happy”.

In the midst of the turmoil, the Buenos Aires city hall unveiled a statue of Messi – with a football at his foot – alongside other national sports stars.

Still, Maradona understands the Messi’s dilemma in playing for a program emboiled in a corruption scandal.

Maradona, the biggest star on that team, was not in the photo. “It’s been four finals, it’s not meant for me”.

He believes Messi should play on until at least the 2018 FIFA World Cup and also called on his teammates to help the 5-time world player of the year strike gold in Russian Federation. “I hope the joy of seeing the best in the world will continue for many more years”, Macri wrote in Spanish on Twitter, ending his message with #NoTeVayasLio, or “Don’t Leave, Lio”.