President, Maradona urge Messi to stay

BUENOS AIRES, June 28

World Cup winner Diego Maradona has called on compatriot Lionel Messi not to abandon international football after the Argentina captain announced he was quitting the national side following Sunday’s Copa America final defeat.

Maradona, captain of his country in the their second World Cup triumph in 1986, was among many leading personalities to speak out in support of Messi, who appeared badly affected by the penalty shootout loss to Chile in New Jersey.

“Messi must carry on in the national team... because he still has a lot to give, because he’ll get to (2018 World Cup hosts) Russia with chances of being world champion,” Maradona was quoted as saying.

“He has to lean more on the lads who can help him take the team forward and less on those who say he should leave,” added Maradona.

“Messi was abandoned and I don’t want to abandon him. That’s why I want to talk to him, to fight against all those who abandoned him,” said Maradona.

There was a strong show of support for Messi when the team returned to Buenos Aires, with fans displaying banners at the airport saying: “Without you we’re nothing, don’t go Messi” and “Stay Messi, you’re the best”. President Mauricio Macri, a former chairman of Boca Juniors, joined in the show of support for Messi with a message on Twitter. “More than ever I feel a great pride in our national team. I hope the joy of seeing the best in the world will continue for many more years,” he wrote. — Reuters