Messi has to stay in national team, says Maradona
Argentine football legend urges Barca star to stay on
Lionel Messi walks after missing his shot during the penalty shoot-out against Chile during the Copa America Centenario final in East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States, on June 26, 2016. PHOTO: AFP
BUENOS AIRES:
Argentine football legend Diego Maradona on Monday urged Lionel Messi not to follow through on his vow to quit the national team after its defeat in the Copa America Centenario.
"Messi has to stay in the national team. He has to stay because he still has playing days ahead of him," Maradona was quoted as saying by La Nacion newspaper online.
"He will go to Russia in form to be world champion" at the 2018 World Cup, he added.
Messi can’t be the leader many expect him to be
Messi, 29, told reporters in the United States he had decided to quit after Argentina's defeat on penalties to Chile there on Sunday.
Messi is widely rated as the best player in the world, but that was his fourth defeat in an international final for Argentina.
The 1986 World Cup winner Maradona, 55, blamed Argentina's recent lack of trophies on the country's football association (AFA).
He accused it of not supporting Messi and letting him take the blame for Sunday's defeat to cover up its shortcomings in managing the sport.
Messi retires from international football
"The lads have to be supported more to help him take the team forward," the newspaper quoted Maradona as saying.
"Those who are saying he should quit are doing it so that we won't see what a disaster Argentine football has become."
AFA's headquarters was evacuated earlier Monday after a bomb hoax, Argentine television channels reported.
Argentine football legend Diego Maradona on Monday urged Lionel Messi not to follow through on his vow to quit the national team after its defeat in the Copa America Centenario.
"Messi has to stay in the national team. He has to stay because he still has playing days ahead of him," Maradona was quoted as saying by La Nacion newspaper online.
"He will go to Russia in form to be world champion" at the 2018 World Cup, he added.
Messi can’t be the leader many expect him to be
Messi, 29, told reporters in the United States he had decided to quit after Argentina's defeat on penalties to Chile there on Sunday.
Messi is widely rated as the best player in the world, but that was his fourth defeat in an international final for Argentina.
The 1986 World Cup winner Maradona, 55, blamed Argentina's recent lack of trophies on the country's football association (AFA).
He accused it of not supporting Messi and letting him take the blame for Sunday's defeat to cover up its shortcomings in managing the sport.
Messi retires from international football
"The lads have to be supported more to help him take the team forward," the newspaper quoted Maradona as saying.
"Those who are saying he should quit are doing it so that we won't see what a disaster Argentine football has become."
AFA's headquarters was evacuated earlier Monday after a bomb hoax, Argentine television channels reported.