In 2016, Messi played in the Copa América Centenario, also in the United States, and went through a penalty shootout in a decisive manner. On that occasion, the final of the competition was against Chile, after a goalless draw. That, in fact, was the second year in a row with the same format for the tournament final and the same method to define the champion.
As the official penalty taker for the Albiceleste, Messi was tasked with opening the series for the Argentine side, as Arturo Vidal had taken the shot and was stopped by Sergio Romero. The number 10 even got past Claudio Bravo, but he used too much force and saw the ball go over the crossbar.
After Chile’s second continental championship was confirmed, the weight of going through yet another frustrating chapter with the Argentine national team generated a radical reaction. Shortly after the setback, Messi said the following in an interview:
“It’s tough, it’s not the time to analyse. In the dressing room, I thought that this is the end for me in the national team, it’s not for me. That’s how I feel now, it’s a great sadness, once again, and I missed a penalty that was very important. I tried very hard to be champion with Argentina. But it didn’t happen. I couldn’t do it.”
A month and a half after the shocking statement, La Pulga issued a statement in which he apologized for the way he acted. He also said that he had given up on retiring from the national team and that he was looking forward to “giving some joy” to the Argentines. Something that would only happen five years later, with the 2021 Copa América win in Brazil.
2024-07-05 04:19:40
#Messi #close #reliving #Copa #America #trauma
