Lionel Messi sensationally announced his retirement from international football here Sunday after Argentina crashed to defeat against Chile in the Copa America Centenario final.
A crestfallen Messi confirmed his decision to quit after yet another agonizing near-miss with Argentina, who have now lost three major tournament finals in a row since 2014.
"It's a hard moment for me and the team, and it's difficult to say, but its over with the Argentina team," said Messi, who was also on the losing side in the final of the 2007 Copa America.
"I've done all I can, I've been in four finals and it hurts not to be a champion," the 29-year-old five-time world footballer of the year added.
Messi had earlier been left distraught after missing Argentina's opening penalty in the shoot-out at MetLife Stadium after the two teams had finished extra-time deadlocked at 0-0.
Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero had got the shoot-out off to a dream start by saving Chile's opening spot-kick but Messi then surrendered the initiative by blazing wildly over the bar.
A further miss by Lucas Biglia put Chile in the box seat and they duly held their nerve to win 4-2.
Argentina coach Gerardo Martino had given no inkling of Messi's decision in a post-match press conference but sympathized with his captain.
- 'Too painful' -
"He feels the way any football player must feel when he gets to a final and then loses," Martino said.
"Certainly to lose again is too painful to act any differently."
It was a carbon copy of last year's Copa America final, also won by Chile on penalties after a goalless draw.
"The final result is all that counts and the final result is Chile winning by penalties so there's not much to analyze," Martino said. "We lost the game and we left empty-handed."
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