Dejected Messi retires from international football

Argentina and Barcelona forward Lionel Messi retired from international duty after missing in a penalty shootout as Chile won the Copa America final.

The 29-year-old was making his 112th appearance for Argentina since making his debut in 2005.

After the match finished 0-0 in 120 minutes, Messi was one of two Argentinean players to miss his spot kicks as Chile won 4-2 on penalties for their second consecutive Copa title.

Messi has not won a major international honour apart from a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Chile upset favorites Argentina with a penalty shootout victory in the Copa America final at MetLife Stadium on Sunday to retain their title in the world’s oldest continental soccer competition.

They earned themselves bragging rights as South America’s dominant team as they beat heavyweights Argentina 4-2 on penalties for a second straight year.

Messi missed from the spot in the shootout, cutting a dejected figure after the result was sealed and Argentina’s trophy drought had been extended to 23 years.

“We are an historic group and we proved that today,” Chilean striker Eduardo Vargas told TV cameras after the game.

The two sides were deadlocked 0-0 after 90 minutes and also after another half an hour of extra time in a match where both teams were reduced to 10 men in the first half.

Chilean substitute Francisco Silva placed his penalty low and to the right of Sergio Romero to score the decider after Messi and Lucas Biglia missed for Argentina and Arturo Vidal missed for Chile.

The win was the second Copa America in a row for Chile, who won their first Copa title at home last year in exactly the same fashion, beating Argentina on penalties after the teams had drawn 0-0 after extra time.

The excitement of the penalty finish barely made up for a disappointing game in which both teams failed to provide many memorable moments for the announced sellout 82,000 crowd in New Jersey.

 

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Lionel Messi argentina football Copa America

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