Sourav Ganguly shocked on Messi’s sudden retirement from International football
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SOurav Ganguly shocked on Messi's sudden retirement from international football. File Pic[/caption]
Kolkata: Lionel Messi sensationally announced his retirement from international football here Sunday after Argentina crashed to an upset defeat against Chile in the final of the Copa America.
The heartbroken Barcelona superstar was distraught after missing a spot-kick as Chile snatched victory in a penalty shoot-out -Messi's fourth straight defeat in a major final while representing Argentina.
Former India captain and CAB President Sourav Ganguly looked surprised with Messi’s decision. Dada said, “I am surprised with his decision. I cannot imagine that I will not see Messi donning that white blue jersey anymore. Actually the cricketing world is totally different from the football world. Cricket is more country based whereas football is more club based.”
On asking Sourav about why did he decide it suddenly, he said, “The decision has just come out of frustration. He missed the penalty in the tie breaker as well as looking out of source in the free-kick zone named as “Messi-Zone” which is his specialty. Consecutive defeats to Chile in the Copa America finals in 2015 and 2016 as well as defeat to Germany in the FIFA World Cup finals must have heartened him. So he took this shocking decision.”
Messi's dramatic announcement followed Argentina's third loss in a major final since 2014.
They were beaten 1-0 by Germany in the final of the World Cup in 2014 and lost on penalties, also to Chile, in the final of the 2015 Copa America.
Messi also tasted defeat with Argentina in the final of the 2007 Copa America. Despite a glittering career that has seen him be named FIFA World Player of the Year on no fewer than five occasions, Messi has often faced baffling criticism from Argentina fans.
Although universally regarded as one of the greatest footballers ever, he has regularly been criticised for his failure to land a major title in the colours of Argentina.
Messi's failure to match the achievements in the Argentina jersey of Diego Maradona, who single-handedly carried the team to victory in the 1986 World Cup, has often been held against him.
Sourav was asked that among the two football legends in the modern era Messi and Ronaldo, who according to him is the best. Sourav replied, “Between Messi and Ronaldo if you ask me to choose, I will choose Messi as the best. But according to me all time great has been Maradona. Maradona has n substitute. Maradona has given Argentina the 1986 World Cup on his individual skills whereas has still now failed to give Argentina a major trophy that too when he has a formidable squad with him.”
