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There are always times when the athletes who are used to always winning, say fiery statements and things they might regret later. It happened with Diego Simeone after losing the Champions League final back in May, and it happened to Lionel Messi a few weeks ago after losing to Chile in the Copa America Centenario. But for Spanish former player Gaizka Mendieta, this decision was made in the heat of the moment and Messi will rethink his words.
Mendieta told Omnisport that: "When you come out after losing a game like that, in the heat of the moment you might say things you're not really thinking. I mean it goes through your head because he just lost a third final in a row, fourth in total, with Argentina. The anxiety for not only him but the entire country to win a major trophy was massive. For so long, living with this pressure and anxiety of winning, it's not easy to deal with. I think personally it was the heat of the moment. Messi loves football too much and his country too much not to play again. I'm sure after holidays he will think differently."
And with all the changes being made in the Argentina FA, Messi has an even better chance at demanding for better treatment of the players and better opportunities to become an even more competitive side with their sights on the championships. There is no way that Leo will just leave things like that and miss out on the opportunity of winning the World Cup by the time he is 30 years old when the tournament is played in Russia.
Photo credit: FC Barcelona
