Montevideo, Buenos Aires: Uruguay striker Luis Suarez believes that Argentina star and his Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi will reverse his decision to quit international football.
Messi called time on his international career in the immediate aftermath of Argentina’s defeat to Chile in the Copa America Centenario final. It was the third time in three successive years that Messi and Argentina failed to grab a major trophy, losing to Germany in the 2014 Fifa World Cup followed by Chile in the Copa America final last year.
The Barcelona star was left in tears having missed his penalty in the shootout, but several high-profile figures in Argentina, including the nation’s president Mauricio Macri and Diego Maradona, have urged the 29-year-old not to go through with his decision.
“I’m sure that he will change his mind, but whatever he decides he will still be the best ever. Knowing Leo, I’m sure it was said in a moment of sadness and helplessness,” Suarez was quoted as saying by Radio Tenfield of Uruguay on Tuesday.
“It would be a shame for football if he took this decision, but I’m sure he will reconsider and change his mind. It’s a difficult time. Everyone has the right to make decisions and they should be respected.”
Argentina, the second most successful nation at the Copa America with 14 titles, thus continue their 23-year wait to win a major tournament. Their last triumph was in 1993 when they won the Copa America title.
The president of Argentina, meanwhile, said he hopes to meet Messi next week and convince him to return to the national team.
President Mauricio Macri said he had spoken by telephone with Messi, who announced his shock retirement from the Argentine national team following the loss Sunday to Chile on penalty kicks in the Copa America final in the United States.
Messi returned Monday to Argentina, but has not spoken publicly.
Macri said he told Messi to “ignore some of the nonsense because, truth be told, we are all very happy” with how the Barcelona star has played for Argentina.
Messi, who moved to Barcelona at age 13, has often faced tough criticism in Argentina because he has failed to deliver the country a major title - in contrast to his repeated success at Barcelona.
He is often compared unfavorably to Maradona, who led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title.
Macri said he didn’t understand the criticism of Messi. “The truth is that it’s good fortune, a joy, a gift from God to have the best player in the world in a country like ours that is so football-crazy,” said Macri, a former president of Argentine club Boca Juniors.
Macri’s lobbying could be helped by a gathering planned Saturday at the obelisk in central Buenos Aires, the city’s most famous landmark.
Support for Messi has been overwhelming on social media with sports figures, artists and politicians urging him to return. Billboards and signs across the city are also asking him to stay.
In the midst of the turmoil, the Buenos Aires city hall unveiled a statue of Messi - with a football at his foot - alongside other national sports stars.
In another show of support, some members of Argentina’s 1986 World Cup team posed for a photograph that contained a written plea: “Don’t Go Lio.”
Maradona, the biggest star on that team, was not in the photo.
TV commentators have speculated that Messi spoke out in frustration after Sunday’s 4-2 loss on penalties to Chile following a scoreless draw.
“The national team is over for me,” Messi told Argentine network TyC Sports. “It’s been four finals, it’s not meant for me. I tried. It was the thing I wanted the most, but I couldn’t get it, so I think it’s over.”
