Lionel Messi retires from international football after losing a 3rd consecutive final as Aguero, Mascherano and more consider future!

Argentina lost to Chile for the second consecutive year running.
The Albiceleste lost to Sanchez and co through penalty shoot out after regular and extra time ended in goalless draws. Both teams had seen their sides reduced to 10 men each in the first-half after Diaz 29' [two yellows] and Marcos Rojo 43' [straight red] had been booked. The crazy game saw at least 10 cards handed out by Brazilian referee Heber Lopes.

Three of the last five Copa America finals have now been decided on penalties. The two most recent being between this pair with Chile having a back-to-back victory in both.

Diaz is off

Rojo is sent off

Messi is booked following his first-half tumble in the box

A heartbroken Lionel Messi who has now led his side to three consecutive final losses and featured in foru in his international career has now declared he is retiring from international football duty, sending the national team into disarray. In 2007 Messi first tasted defeat in a final with Argentina, losing 3-0 to Brazil in the Copa America.
That was followed by disappointment against Germany in 2014, plus defeats to Chile two years running in the Copa America again.

AS THE 4:2 SPOT KICK WENT
Arturo VIdal [Chile] - Miss
Lionel Messi [Argentina] - Miss
Javier Mascherano [Argentina] - Score
Charles Aranguiz [Chile] - Score
Sergio Aguero [Argentina] -Score
Jean Beausejour [Chile] - Score
Lucas Biglia [Argentina] - Miss
Gato SIlva [Chile] - Score

Messi was among three players that missed their final shoot-out after extra-time in the Copa America Centenario.

The Barcelona star who was in tears after the match, explained his decision to Argentine television after the game.
'That's it. It's over for me with the national team,' he explained.
'It's not for me. That's four finals. The decision has been made, I think so. [Winning] is what I wanted most. It didn't come. I think that's it. That's how I feel now, what I think. It's a great sadness. It hurts not to be a champion.'

Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez received the Golden Ball award for best player

With a good number of years still ahead of him, the 29-year-old may still change his mind, but for now the constant disappointment with his national side and his long-term discontent with the AFA (Argentine Football Association) have led to this reaction. Messi posted on Instagram on Wednesday because of a delay to Argentina's flight to New Jersey from Houston, writing: 'What a disaster the AFA is.'
He later promised to go into details about his grievances after the tournament.

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero revealed that his other compatriots could be considering their futures with the side too, with Javier Mascherano also being suspected as one of the stars who may quit.

'Messi probably won't be the only player to leave the national team,' said Aguero. 'There are various players who are considering quitting. This is the worst I've seen the dressing room. Worse than after the other two finals [the 2014 World Cup and 2015 Copa America].'

On Friday FIFA announced they have taken control of the AFA and are electing an emergency panel to manage its affairs, after president Luis Segura was charged with fraud on Thursday.

Mendel meets the post in an attempt to defend his goal post

Some of Messi's team-mates are however, shocked by his decision. Manchester United goalkeeper Sergio Romero said: 'I think Messi spoke in the heat of the moment because such a great opportunity escaped us.'

Aguero added: 'I don't know what the other players think but what I saw today in the dressing room I have never seen before.'

In my opinion, if he stays retired this way, it won't go down well in memory lane. Indeed for himself and his team, a golden generation. Success with the national team gives Pele and Maradona an edge. There is just that extra something a title with the national team does. It will also give reason to those that have argued his superiority, insisting his huge success is because of the supposedly "non-competitive" league he is in and the fact he has achieved all in one team. It would raise doubts and get more tongues wagging.