Lionel Messi announces international retirement

A bit of a shame. However, you do have a gut feeling that Messi will make a comeback once Russia comes around.

Maradona came to Europe as a COMPLETE Footballer. He learned most himself in the slums of Argentina with inferior equipment, often not even having a proper Football. A reason why he could juggle anything, tennis balls, golf balls, drink bottles etc. He was one of the first South American players to play in Europe and at that time, they were met with a lot of hostility by fans, media and other players. They weren't welcomed like nowadays. Europe gave Maradona NOTHING but a chance. Messi on the other hand was welcomed and nurtured in Spain from early age, given growth hormones and enjoying the best Football school, science, equipment... Maradona was forced to be a rebel to make it in Europe and understandably had more heart for Argentina. Messi has more heart for his club Barcelona.

Fully understandable. Players at his level have such an extreme schedule, hardly a few weeks holiday per year. July is the only month in the year, when he can have a bit of rest. NRL ( 6 months on, 6 months off) is kindergarten in comparison. Playing for Argentina doesn't pay much. The millions come in from Barcelona.. He wants to be 100% for La Liga, Copa Del Rey and Champions League. Barcelona is expected to win everything every year.

Messi is not Zidane either. A man who is the only player at International level I saw who was in Maradonna''s level. Brazil Ronaldo is better at International level than Messi, and many would say Gasgoine is as well.

Don't try and hide behind your multiple personalities Pippinu. Lionel Messi is the greatest living footballer on the planet, those comments are shameless and disrespectful and show a very poor understanding of world football.

He may not be as great as Maradona However arguably Messi has one of the greatest club career in the history of the game probably second only to Di Stefano which he is more accurate comparison rather than Maradona. Instead of Messi being the next Maradona perhaps it's more accurate to say that he is the Barcelona equivalent of Real Madrid's Di Stefano. The player who more than most turned the club into a global institution and defined the club for generations to come. He could still surpass Di Stefano club career by the time he retires as well and his international career already surpasses Di Stenafo by a huge amount. The fact that Di Stefano is generally in the top 5 to Top 10 greatest player of all time and Messi is around the sound standard of achievement I think that's good enough even if it ain't Maradona level of achievement.

Very surprised by this, it does smack of post game emotion coming out in the heat of the moment. I wouldn't be surprised if he reconsiders for the next World Cup. He hasn't dominated a World Cup tournament and surely he wants to prove himself on the biggest stage of all and help Argies go one better. Whilst he was voted player of the tournament in Brazil, that was ridiculous, he was good but nothing more, it was a token award. Maradonna was a beast at National level and is far superior to Messi at this level.

What a selfish decision. He is the first superstar I can recall to forego a World Cup. Many have missed World Cups due to injury, their team not making it or retiring whilst they were still worthy of a place but not at their peak (e.g. Scholes, Maldini). People have often knocked Ronaldo but if he held his Portugese teammates to Messi's standards he would have quit their team years ago. If Messi wants to be GOAT he has to come back for 2018. Otherwise he will always be a player who only proved himself when surrounded by other superstars.

That is fortunate though, we can look back and say that as good as Messi was he hasnt in Maradonnas class as a player. Messi is awesome and la liga and Barcelona make him look awesome but he hasnt done anything for his country where it is much harder to be great.

This decision has sour grapes, sooky, cry baby written all over it.

Messi fits beautifully into Barcelona's system. But at international level he has always looked out of his comfort zone. A player like Maradona was a talented and tough individual who could win a World Cup on his own for Argentina. I don't think Messi has that same individual quality, but is a magnificent team player in the right environment. Unfortunately comparisons were always going to be made.

Messi is a fantastic player and definitely one of the all time greats, but he hasn't got the calm head necessary to deal with the weight of expectation Argentina places on him as captain, striker, heir apparent to Maradona etc. His post match sook isn't even as good as Ronaldo's.

Good riddance. What a self centered footballer.

Great club player, not a great international player. Maradonna was a great international player and a great club player. Messi's career has been a failure you could say, he couldn't match the feats of Maradonna at international level. Maradonna was the people's champion Messi was a FIFA lap dog and FIFA love child and yes man. He will be back come 2018 for the world cup, you watch. He just wants to avoid the pressure and having to play world cup qualifiers etc.

Give him a couple of weeks and see if that is still his answer ... I think he'll want to have another crack at the next World Cup!!

Well that's definitely not an overreaction.