Messi retires from Argentina.

MounchesterUtd said:
Let's start with 86 Argentina; they only allowed 5 goals all tournament long. That number, no matter the era they played in, is phenomenal. This by itself demolishes the myth of Maradona "doing it by himself". Meanwhile, his partner on offense wasn't bad either: Jorge Valdano (of RM) scored 4 in the same tournament. To top it all off, he was coached by what a lot of people rightfully consider one of the greatest WC managers in history, Carlos Bilardo.

Sure, Maradona was by far the player of the tournament, scoring 5 and assisting 5. He was involved in 10 of Argentina's 14 goals in 7 matches. That is very impressive, but it didn't mean that the rest of the team were poor.

To put it in perspective, in Euro 84, Michael Platini scored 9 goals in 5 matches, including the winner that sent them to the Finals. Platini doubled in one tournament Diego's career goal total in the Copa America (4) but hardly anyone called/calls it a one-man effort. Was it because Maradona did it in the World Cup? I am inclined to say yes.

Let's talk about Napoli then. I will say upfront that I agree with everything you said about Diego putting Napoli on the map, but does that mean the rest of the squad was poor? Let's start with the defense again: Ciro Ferrera was the leader at the back of a team that conceded just 21 goals in their '87 title run. 21 in 30 games is a phenomenal record, then you add the 16 clean sheets.

Other notable teammates include Italian internationals Andrea Carnevale, Salvatore Bagni and (forgot his first name) De Napoli. Napoli was hardly Maradona + a bunch of scrubs.

Napoli was even better in 1990 as they added Careca to complete their Maradona-Giordano-Careca (MaGiCa) trio. Careca scored 73 in 164 games for Napoli.

Source - http://www.barcaforum.com/showthread.php/1664-Diego-Maradona?p=1410378&viewfull=1#post1410378
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Good post. It's really pathetic if he doesn't reconsider his decision. It must be really hard on him to lose the World Cup and Copa America back to back and then missing the penalty but he is only 29 for god's sake.
 
Can't see this being permanent. Someone will talk him into coming back for the World Cup.
 
I just went out and come home seeing this news. Gutted.

Messi must read CAF and be aware of 30 year old decline curse!
 
Needham said:
Sorry, mum. But seriously if the next WC was in South America or a non-dictatorship European country, he may have held off on jacking it in.
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Surely you don't actually believe that?

Messi is a simple guy. He cares about winning an international tournament for his country. It's a bit ridiculous to suggest where the tournament is held is going to make that kind of a difference to him.
 
Varun said:
Weak ass shit.
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Some harsh assessments piling up here. Sportsmen know their bodies better than anyone else. He's at such an elite level that even the slightest sense he has of decline will lead him to protect and prolong what he has.
 
Unbelievable, GOAT for me, but bad management and just some terrible luck has resulted in him never being able to do it internationally.
 
Mr Smith said:
Surely you don't actually believe that?

Messi is a simple guy. He cares about winning an international tournament for his country. It's a bit ridiculous to suggest where the tournament is held is going to make that kind of a difference to him.
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Simple people care about location more than anyone else! When you emigrated to Australia I bet you first checked to see whether it gets 13 months of snow a year like Russia does.
 
Blame that stupid competition. Euros every year would drive our internationals nuts, too.
 
Needham said:
Some harsh assessments piling up here. Sportsmen know their bodies better than anyone else. He's at such an elite level that even the slightest sense he has of decline will lead him to protect and prolong what he has.
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He's 29 and the WC is 2yrs away. The way he's done it an interview right after losing the final indicates it's borne out of frustration at the loss rather than a considered decision due to his body(which itself would be bizarre gives he's just 29). Looks to me he's just tired of not actually winning trophies with the NT and has quit in the heat of the moment. Won't surprise me to see him change his mind later.
 
Is this bad for Messi's legacy? To me he's below Pele and Maradona now.
 
Needham said:
Simple people care about location more than anyone else! When you emigrated to Australia I bet you first checked to see whether it gets 13 months of snow a year like Russia does.
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:lol: Your posts are getting crazier by the minute.
 
Needham said:
Some harsh assessments piling up here. Sportsmen know their bodies better than anyone else. He's at such an elite level that even the slightest sense he has of decline will lead him to protect and prolong what he has.
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Yeah because he really needs to win yet another league/cup/CL title with Barcelona. At this point winning the World Cup should be his number 1 priority, he's been there and done that with Barcelona.
 
Messi, Aguero and Masche all retiring :eek:
Good for Messi though, he can save his legs now. Anyway just too much pressure and controversy from his countrymen. I don't think Barca management would be too unhappy with this decision.
 
What. Nothing he does in Barca matters at this point. The only thing left to do was to win the World Cup with Argentina and he's retiring? Man....

*edit*

Might be some power play with Aguero and Mascherano announcing their retirements as well.
 
Varun said:
He's 29 and the WC is 2yrs away. The way he's done it an interview right after losing the final indicates it's borne out of frustration at the loss rather than a considered decision due to his body(which itself would be bizarre gives he's just 29). Looks to me he's just tired of not actually winning trophies with the NT and has quit in the heat of the moment. Won't surprise me to see him change his mind later.
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Could be. Could also be that he planned to retire no matter the outcome. Someone has mentioned Cruyff already. Pele was playing with fellow genius's and saw no need to quit, playing was sheer pleasure. Never had the sense that Messi actually enjoys playing for Argentina, a country he left aged 13.
 
Lurpak99 said:
Yeah because he really needs to win yet another league/cup/CL title with Barcelona. At this point winning the World Cup should be his number 1 priority, he's been there and done that with Barcelona.
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Mascherano and Aguero have also quit. Argentina not winning any WCs before Messi hits 35. Maradona was 26 in 1986.
 
IFC 1905 said:
Sorry if I didn't express myself well. I meant Spain gave him everything. Argentina has done nothing for him.

PS: Mascherano retires from Argentina aswell
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Is it true Messi, Mascherano and Aguero quit internationals? If true, got to feel for you. Why have all three quit? Manager? Maradonna saying they mustn't go back to Argentina?
 
Needham said:
Could be. Could also be that he planned to retire no matter the outcome. Someone has mentioned Cruyff already. Pele was playing with fellow genius's and saw no need to quit, playing was sheer pleasure. Never had the sense that Messi actually enjoys playing for Argentina, a country he left aged 13.
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He could've played for Spain but chose Argentina. Often says he'd trade away the BDOs for a World Cup. I would say it's safe to assume he enjoys playing for them.
 
carlosp said:
Is it true Messi, Mascherano and Aguero quit internationals? If true, got to feel for you. Why have all three quit? Manager? Maradonna saying they mustn't go back to Argentina?
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Clearly they're being crushed under the weight of expectation. Those are three extremely talented players, leaders in this team, who have lost three consecutive international finals in three years. The more I think about this, the more I think this kind of fallout was kind of inevitable. It's still very sad to see though.
 
Lurpak99 said:
Yeah because he really needs to win yet another league/cup/CL title with Barcelona. At this point winning the World Cup should be his number 1 priority, he's been there and done that with Barcelona.
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He can left as indisputable CL legend if he keeps winning. It's very to win the WC especially with a team full of bottlers. Messi is stained with this team and comes out as bottler. People burden the expectation and criticism too much on him. Football is a team game after all.

With Mascherano retired too, then he backbone is broken, it would be harder for Messi to continue alone in his state.
 
What a wimp.

True winners overcome defeats and look forward to come back even stronger for the next challenge. Not call quits after a few defeats in a row.
 
Needham said:
Could be. Could also be that he planned to retire no matter the outcome. Someone has mentioned Cruyff already. Pele was playing with fellow genius's and saw no need to quit, playing was sheer pleasure. Never had the sense that Messi actually enjoys playing for Argentina, a country he left aged 13.
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He wouldn't have announced it the way he did in that case. Post game interview.
 
carlosp said:
Is it true Messi, Mascherano and Aguero quit internationals? If true, got to feel for you. Why have all three quit? Manager? Maradonna saying they mustn't go back to Argentina?
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It has nothing to do with Maradona. Maradona is a moron.

It's just they're done with this loosing thing.


The problem is not them. It's our FA.
 
MounchesterUtd said:
He could've played for Spain but chose Argentina. Often says he'd trade away the BDOs for a World Cup. I would say it's safe to assume he enjoys playing for them.
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Maybe the desire to win with Argentina is there, but enjoyment? He faces repeat pointless future failures with them in upcoming tournaments. Who would enjoy that?
 
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