Retirement: Messi Must Go On -Maradona

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 Tidesports source.
“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”.
According to  news agency, Argentine President Mauricio Macri called Messi to tell him “how proud he feels of the national team’s performance and asked him not to listen to the criticism”.
Messi has won eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues with his club, Spanish side Barcelona.
But his only major international honour is Olympic gold at the 2008 Games.