Read what Maradona says to Messi as the star retires from international football

– Messi has announced his retirement from international football

– Argentina legend Maradona reacts to the words of the Barcelona star

– Lionel Messi  has now lost four finals with Argentina

According to the legendary Argentina striker Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi must not follow through on his vow to quit international football.

Argentina captain Lionel Messi has called it quits with international football after Argentina’s Copa America 2016 final defeat.

Chile have won the 2016 Copa America centenario, defending the title they won in Santiago in 2015.

La Roja held Lionel Messi’s Argentina to a goalless draw for 120 minutes and after extra-time, penalties decided the game with Lucas Biglia and Lionel Messi missing for Argentina.

In the penalty shoot-out, Arturo Vidal missed the first spot-kick and the Argentina captain followed suit.

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Lucas Biglia missed his side’s fourth penalty leaving Francisco Silva to score the winner as Chile celebrated only their second ever senior international title.

After the defeat, a frustrated Barcelona star said:  “The national team is over for me. That’s four finals (lost,) it’s not for me. It’s a made decision, I think.”

He added: “I feel a great sadness right now that this is happening again. I missed my penalty, which was super important. That’s it”

Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona

However, Argentine legend Maradona stated: “Messi has to stay in the national team. He will go to Russia in form to be world champion. He has to rely more on boys who can help take the team forward and less on those who say they have to go.”

He added: “Those who are saying he should quit are doing it so that we won’t see what a disaster Argentine football has become.”

Maradona stressed: “I am very sorry and very angry with what is happening to Argentine football. “We hit bottom, we reached the bottom.”

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