Maradona, Argentine president and fans ask Messi not to stop

Maradona, Argentine president and fans ask Messi not to stop

BEUNOS AIRES: Argentine football legend Diego Maradona and the nation's President Mauricio Macri encouraged Lionel Messi on Monday not to leave the national group in spite of his promise to stop after a mortifying annihilation. 

The Barcelona whiz left the field in tears in the wake of missing a spot-kick in the Copa America Centenario last shootout against Chile on Sunday. 

He quickly told correspondents he was stopping, tossing Argentine football into turmoil in front of the 2018 World Cup in Russia. 

"He needs to stay since despite everything he has playing days in front of him," Maradona was cited as saying by La Nacion daily paper on the web. "He will go to Russia in structure to be best on the planet." 

Messi, 29, is generally appraised as the best player on the planet, yet Sunday's misfortune was his fourth annihilation in a worldwide last for Argentina. 

After an overflowing of disillusionment by fans on the web, Argentinian President Macri joined the requires the Barcelona whiz to stay with Argentina. 

Macri on Twitter said that "like never before I feel awesome pride for our group. I trust we can keep on having the delight of seeing the world's best player for a long time." 

"He called him and let him know how pleased he feels of the national group's execution and requested that him not listen to the feedback," a representative for the president told AFP by phone. 

Argentine football "fiasco" 

The 1986 World Cup victor Maradona, 55, censured Argentina's late absence of trophies on the nation's football affiliation (AFA). 

He blamed it for not supporting Messi and giving him a chance to assume the fault for Sunday's annihilation. 

"The individuals who are stating he ought to stop are doing it with the goal that we won't see what a catastrophe Argentine football has ended up," La Nacion cited Maradona as saying. 

Messi and the squad arrived back in Buenos Aires on Monday evening after the competition in the United States. 

TV cameras took after their mentor yet the players had yet to make any remark to the media. 

'Soaked with feedback' 

Messi is cherished in Barcelona yet his companions griped of how cruelly he has been judged in his country. 

"This chap is simply soaked with feedback and being so seriously treated," said Ernesto Vecchio, who was Messi's first mentor in his local city of Rosario. 

"I don't need him to stop however when I place myself in his shoes it appears to be unjustifiable that they ought to look to him as the rescuer when there are 11 players on the group." 

Messi's composed attitude on the pitch makes him an effective goalscorer, however his held way has drawn feedback. 

In front of the current month's Copa, Maradona himself blamed Messi for having "no identity" for a skipper. 

Messi has been named FIFA World Player of the Year five times. Yet, he has been spooky by correlations with Maradona, who drove Argentina to World Cup triumph in 1986. 

Players "crushed" 

The star's takeoff could proclaim a more extensive change in the Argentina line-up. 

Manchester City star Sergio Aguero cautioned different players could likewise stop the national side. 

"We were all crushed in the changing area, especially Leo, I'd never seen him in such a state," he said. "A few players are pondering whether to proceed." 

Aguero did not say whether he would take after Messi in stopping however he, Javier Mascherano and Gonzalo Higuain were said in media reports. 

Sergio Romero, Argentina's goalkeeper, said Messi talked seemingly out of the blue and he needs him to rethink. "It's tragic in light of the fact that by and by a lovely risk disappeared," Romero said. 

Series of annihilations 

Argentina were beaten 1-0 by Germany in the last of the 2014 World Cup and lost on punishments, likewise to Chile, in the 2015 Copa America last. 

Messi additionally tasted rout with Argentina in the last of the 2007 Copa America. 

In the current month's Copa semi-last win over the United States, he turned into Argentina's top worldwide scorer ever with his 55th objective. 

Be that as it may, after Sunday's last, his run of the mill self-control offered approach to tears of dissatisfaction. 

"I've done whatever I would, I've be able to been in four finals and it harms not to be a champion," Messi told correspondents. "It's a hard minute for me and the group, and it's hard to say, yet it's over with the Argentina group." 

"On top of everything, I missed the extra shot," he said. "I think this is best for everybody. As a matter of first importance for me, and afterward for everybody. I think there are many people who need this, who clearly are not fulfilled, as we are not fulfilled achieving a last and not winning it." 

His takeoff left numerous fans no more contemplating the Copa. 

"Losing a last is something that happens in game," kept in touch with one fan, Fede Ruiz, on Twitter. "Be that as it may, losing you is the most agonizing thrashing of all."