4 reasons why Lionel Messi could retire from Argentina

Another futile attempt, another heartbreaking juncture for the Argentinians. La Albiceleste succumbed to a disappointing 4-3 loss to France in the quarter-finals, exiting the World Cup in a disappointing fashion as the World Cup dream extended to a long wait for another 4 years.

Of all those who represented the country in blue and white, one man has found himself in the limelight once again for failing to fulfil the expectations of an entire nation. Almost every football fan will be eager to see if Lionel Messi decides to stay and fight or calls it a day for the second time in his international career.

While the rumours of his retirement have already started flooding in, here are the reasons why the Barcelona man could prove them to be true.

---

#5 Luck seems to have deserted him

“It’s difficult. It’s a tough moment to analyse. For me, the national team is over. I’ve done all I can, it hurts not to be a champion. It’s been four finals, I tried. It was the thing I wanted the most, but I couldn’t get it, so I think it's over." - Lionel Messi.

When Leo Messi announced his retirement two years ago, he was condemned by many for giving up - but only by those who despise him or want to see him fail. However, the perspectives of his ardent fans had a different argument, one that cannot be ignored.

Sure, the Argentinian has failed to replicate his success for the Albiceleste, but few would disagree over the fact that he has fallen short in his desire to taste glory at the international stage.

Lionel Messi has been the kingpin of a nation that has lost 4 finals, and in that case, it's safe to say that his stars haven't been exactly kind to him, have they? After all, no man can boast about winning against destiny and Messi, no matter how celestial he is as a footballer, is still bound by the chains of his own fate.

His announcement of retirement back in 2016 appears to be more of a realization of this fact than abandoning hope and admitting defeat.

#4 The players have let him down

Messi's teammates have shied away from their responsibilities

"When I played and had a bad game...(Jorge) Valdano, (Jorge) Burruchaga showed up and had my back. Messi has no one. It's all on his own." - Diego Maradona

Ever since the disastrous World Cup qualifiers to their below par and mediocre displays in Russia, El Diego's aforementioned statement has reflected brightly.

Football's a team game and hardly can you expect a player to step up in every game. The same goes for Messi, who had no one watching his back whenever he failed to deliver the required goods.

It is no secret that a talisman requires the finest team if he is to prosper. But with the Albiceleste, one can hardly say that Messi has a squad of players who deserve to play with him. His teammates have disappointed him every time, incessantly depending on him to weave the magic he is well-known for.

Simply put, the players have shunned their responsibilities during games, in spite of knowing that the Barca man will be heavily marked. And yet, hardly anyone attempted to beat the opponents or create chances, turning to a constantly hounded Messi to provide food for scoring goals.

The players failing to fulfil their basic duties could well be a crucial reason for Messi to call it a day once more.

#3 The pressure of comparisons with Maradona

Messi will always be pitted against Maradona whether he likes it or not

It is in the nature of people to compare the best in any field to find out who comes out on top. In Messi's case, he has been compared to Diego Maradona ever since the start of his glorious career.

Well, you can't totally blame the critics, can you? For starters, both have short stature, both have scored bucketloads of goals and both have a similar playing style. In that case, it's but natural to brand Messi as the perfect heir to El Diego. However, it's the World Cup that has kept him from overtaking his former Argentina coach.

Every time Messi has failed to win, people have tried to pull him down by talking about how Maradona clinched a World Cup for Argentina with a less talented squad. He has been mocked and ridiculed for not being able to bring the trophy home, in spite of having a better set of players than those who won the competition in 1986.

The endless comparisons with Maradona have seemingly become an incurable disease for the Barcelona man. As a result, Messi seems to have succumbed to the pressure of claiming to be the legendary icon's worthy heir. Add the fact that the World Cup exit at the hands of France has done no good to his already tarnished image on the international stage.

Constant comparisons with Diego Maradona and the failure of satisfying the expectations of his nation might as well see him hang up his boots any day now.

#1 The World Cup dream seems far from being fulfilled now

World Cup 2018 was probably his last chance to win the competition

A dream that will never be converted into a reality, it seems.

FIFA World Cup 2018 was being touted as the last chance for Leo Messi to take a shot at international glory. However, given the shambolic performances they put up right since the start of the qualifiers, La Albiceleste were hardly the logical favourites to reach the final itself, let alone win it.

Russia was perhaps the last chance for Leo Messi to guide his country to glory, considering he turned 31 last month. He could also force himself to play in Qatar in 2022, but would that be fruitful enough? The talismanic forward will already be 35 until the next World Cup kicks off and it's hard to say whether he can be an influential figure in that age.

If not the World Cup, he could at least try to win the Copa America in 2019, but taking into account the quality of Argentina's squad, that too seems unlikely.

It might sound cruel, but there's no shining ray of hope for Messi to look at if he wants to win a title with the national team. That could probably result into his retirement sooner than later.