Maradona urges Messi to reconsider retirement

Diego Maradona has urged his heir, Lionel Messi, to continue playing for Argentina

Diego Maradona has told Lionel Messi that he should reconsider his decision to retire from international football.

The Argentina captain announced he was quitting after losing the Copa America final on penalties to Chile for the second time in a row, making it three lost finals in three seasons.

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Messi said he would trade all five of his Ballon d'Or awards for just one title with Argentina, who have not won a major international tournament for 23 years.

"In the dressing room I thought that this is the end for me with the national team, it's not for me," Messi said when announcing his retirement. 

"I tried so hard to be champion with Argentina. Now I am leaving without having managed it."

But if anyone can persuade Messi to think again, perhaps it is compatriot Maradona.

Messi must carry on

Maradona led Argentina to glory in the 1986 World Cup as captain and he said the Barcelona star, who turned 29 during the Copa America, has to carry on playing international football.

However, Messi seems set on his decision after his missed penalty set up the chance for Chile to defend their title, again after a 0-0 draw in the final.

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But Maradona has called on Messi to carry on, with the 2018 World Cup in Russia in sight.

"Messi must carry on in the national team... because he still has a lot to give, because he'll get to Russia with a chance of being world champion," Maradona was quoted as saying by La Nacion. 

"He has to lean more on the lads who can help him take the team forward and less on those who say he should leave. Messi was abandoned and I don't want to abandon him. That's why I want to talk to him, to fight against all those who abandoned him."

Maradona knows Messi better than most as he coached him at the 2010 World Cup, but will the maestro listen to the old master?

Messi at Copa America

Messi had enjoyed a terrific Copa America before his penalty nightmare in the final, even though he missed the start of the tournament with a back injury.

The forward announced his comeback in fine style by scoring a hat-trick off the bench against Panama, then drew level with Gabriel Batistuta's all-time Argentina goals record by scoring again in the next round against Argentina.

Messi scored a trademark free-kick in the semi-final against United States to move a goal clear of his hero Bati on 55 international goals, but he had a more difficult game in the final.

Chile's physicality and insistence on breaking up play - two players were sent off for dirty tackles - made it a hard match for Messi to shine, but he was still at the heart of Argentina's best play.

However, the penalty miss proved crucial as Chile again triumphed in a shoot-out, but Uruguay striker Luis Suarez, a team-mate of Messi at Barcelona, believes he will play on.

"I'm sure that he will change his mind, but whatever he decides he will still be the best ever," Suarez told Radio Tenfield. 

"Knowing Leo, I’m sure it was said in a moment of sadness and helplessness."