/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/49961785/usa-today-9357852.0.jpg)
Messi: "The national team is over for me. It's not for me after 4 finals. The decision is taken, I believe." https://t.co/AaK94pq9xG
— Grant Wahl (@GrantWahl) June 27, 2016
The best player of this generation has been turning into a Crying Jordan meme after last night’s Copa America Centenario final. In their third straight final, Argentina and Lionel Messi lost to Chile in penalties. You could see the heartbreak on Messi’s face after he missed his penalty attempt and it only got worse as Chile won the championship.
And now, he says he is retiring from the national team. The pain and pressure has combined to make him want to walk away in this moment. Once he gets away from this disappointment, will he come back? It’s very possible.
To understand this, you have to understand the issue of how Messi is perceived in Argentina. For people who watching and worshiped Diego Maradona, Messi has been a failure in the national team jersey. He went to Spain at a very young age and never played in the Argentine league. Maradona started at Argentinos Juniors before going to Boca. He was immensely skilled, but also a scrappy fighter from the barrio. Most importantly, Maradona carried Argentina to the World Cup title in Mexico in 1986. For that, he will always be revered.
You could almost see the pressure getting to Messi last night. He seemed to be trying to do more individually than usual. You can’t deny how much he wanted to win the trophy for Argentina. It just didn’t happen for him and for Argentina. The game is cruel sometimes.
Personally, I think he’ll be back in an Argentina jersey ahead of World Cup 2018. I just hope he can manage the immense pressure that will hit him in that tournament.
American Boy
More from New York on the Kwadwo Poku transfer to Miami FC. (Hudson River Blue)
Two penalties in the last ten minutes allow the Timbers to make off with a win over Houston. (Dynamo Theory)
They strike again! Unlucky Houston, you're the victims this week @PROreferees
— Dax McCarty (@DaxMcCarty11) June 26, 2016
Andrew Wenger did Jermaine Taylor dirty to score the first goal:
Andrew Wenger works Taylor and then fires home to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. pic.twitter.com/XU2L0e8nnj
— Total MLS (@TotalMLS) June 26, 2016
The best goals and skills of the week in Major League Soccer. (MLS)
The Orlando Pride lost a big home match to the Portland Thorns in NWSL action yesterday. (The Mane Land)
However, they did score this golazo:
67' GOOOOALLLLLLLLL SPENCER! Outside of the box into the back of the net! What a ball.#ORLvPOR | 1-0 pic.twitter.com/aK8WroUNEL
— Orlando Pride (@ORLPride) June 26, 2016
Indy Eleven beat Pachuca 1-0 in a friendly in Indianapolis on a goal from Eamon Zayed. (Indy Eleven)
HIGHLIGHTS - Indy Eleven 1:0 Pachuca
— Indy Eleven (@IndyEleven) June 26, 2016
(h/t @WebStreamSports & @TianLiang1989)https://t.co/XJqxGkPcuA
Out of this World
Words can’t really do the Copa America Centenario final justice:
Look at Alexis lmfao pic.twitter.com/uP5Yu27CVc
— renato (@rehnato) June 27, 2016
Two big match-ups today to conclude the Euro 2016 Round of 16. Italy vs. Spain at noon and England vs. Iceland at 3pm, both on ESPN2.
Iceland is ready:
THIS MONDAY...
— Reykjavík Grapevine (@rvkgrapevine) June 26, 2016
A SUMMER BLOCKBUSTER...
At a screen near you:
"BREXIT 2—THE SMITING."https://t.co/VlA88yydzv#ENGISL #ISL #ENG #Euro2016
Oh Atlanta
Bud Norris leads the Braves to a 5-2 win over the Mets. (Talking Chop)
Falcons have sold nearly 30,000 PSL’s, accounting for nearly $200M. (The Falcoholic)