Messi to rethink int'l retirement after WC?
Lionel Messi's track record as a professional has encompassed just about every imaginable accolade, but one that has eluded him and his Argentina national teammates is winning the World Cup.
The Barcelona star has played a significant role for the Albiceleste since debuting for Argentina back in 2005, and even helped guide the South American power to the 2014 World Cup final.
However, harsh criticism from local media could push Messi and many of his teammates towards not returning to the national team and it would not be the first time Messi has contemplated international retirement.
Following the 2016 Copa America Centenario final -- which resulted in a Chilean victory over Messi's Argentina -- the Blaugrana attacker announced his retirement from the Albiceleste. While he has since returned, it appears Messi is once again considering a halt from representing Argentina.
“It's just the feeling that this group of players has. It seems that having reached three straight finals didn't mean anything,” Messi told La Cornisa TV. “Obviously, we depend on results and unfortunately, we reached three finals and we didn't win them.
“A lot was said about us. The criticisms hurt back then. But the demand is going to be there for this group to get it done. We think that if we don't do it, we are going to get a lot more [criticism] and we are not going to have another possibility.”
Argentina has fallen in three consecutive major finals dating back to 2014, including two Copa America competitions and the World Cup and Messi says these shortcomings have weighed heavily on him, and that winning a World Cup is still the one goal that has left him hungry.
“To win a World Cup is not easy. It doesn't happen often. The last time we did things well but due to minor details we didn't get it done. We are very enthusiastic and eager to lift the cup for our country. I hope God helps us and it happens.”
However, the Barcelona star also added that he is no longer affected by critics or sporting setbacks, attributing the change in his attitude to having become a father in 2012.
"The best I can do to forget everything is be with my children, wife, family. The rest is secondary," said Messi, who has three sons -- Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro. "The arrival of my first son made me close myself off with football. I don't like to lose, to draw, but I take it differently. It's more than a result, sometimes you can't always win, there are surprises, you can't always win and once it's over there are other things.
"I talk about everything that happens with my family, my brothers. They are always there and I tell them everything.
"At the time [criticism] affected me and the critics were bad to me. But that's over. I know they say things out of place, that have nothing to do with sport. They get involved in their private life."
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