Lionel Messi: Diego Maradona urges forward to change mind about retiring

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Messi missed with Argentina's first penalty of the shootout against Chile in a repeat of last year's Copa final

Lionel Messi has been urged to reconsider his international retirement by Argentina legend Diego Maradona and the country's president.

The forward, 29, quit after missing in a penalty shootout as Argentina were beaten by Chile in the Copa America - a fourth major final loss in nine years.

"Those saying he should quit don't want us to see what a disaster Argentinean football has become," Maradona told La Nacion newspaper.

"Messi must go on."

Maradona, who captained Argentina to victory in the 1986 World Cup and managed the team at the 2010 World Cup, added: "Messi has to stay because he will reach the 2018 World Cup in Russia in conditions to become world champion.

"The lads have to be supported more to help him take the team forward."

Messi said after Sunday's defeat that for him, the national team was "over" and that "it hurts not to be a champion". tomado de :http://www.bbc.com/sport/football/36649177