Messi retires from Argentina. Now we just need to get disenrolled from FIFA and we are done. It's time to clean AFA.

I wish all Mexico players had some dignity and announced their retirement after the loss vs Chile. As for Messi, considering the amount of pressure he has and criticism he gets it's not surprinsing. Higuain should retire as well (or never be selected again)

Oh no! If Messi retires, Argentina has a good chance at winning the next world cup. Please stay, Messi!

Well let's say it this way. Out of the last 12 Euros that Germany has participated in they reached the Semis 9 times and the finals 6 times.

Brazil will drop if they continue to play bad. Problem is that they started from a really high Elo and it takes time for them to lose points.

LipeJJ said: Oh no! If Messi retires, Argentina has a good chance at winning the next world cup. Please stay, Messi!

Don't worry, we are not going to the next world cup.

mZuzek said: LipeJJ said: Oh no! If Messi retires, Argentina has a good chance at winning the next world cup. Please stay, Messi! Lol. Without Messi, Argentina's not making it past quarter finals, in fact they might not even go as far. Despite his occasional bad performances and misses in important games and finals, it's still pretty ridiculously obvious that he's by very far the best player on this team. Without him, Argentina has absolutely no creativity whatsoever. I do think he'll stay, though. And who knows, with a couple of years now to settle down, maybe this pathetic team can finally get their title.

I was obviously joking, duh.

But in all seriousness, I think their chances of failling again are bigger if he stays; maybe players would stop waiting for him to decide and will actually do it for themselves. I also think the amount of pressure he would/will be under is unfathomable. To be fair, this whole generation feels the pressure and there's no stopping it until they win something, which only makes it worse.

Even if he's not, he essentially is by default. Zuzek is the true embodiment of Vasco's soul.

Go NORWAY!.... Fuck, they aren't even on the list.... Yeah Norway sucks when it comes to having a good team... But we do good in winter-sport! Who would pay cash to see people try to play Football with skies? I sure would, hell of a lot more entertaining as well!

It saddens me that one of the best players ever has stagefright when it comes to playing finals for his country.
It was obvious during the WC and hearing comments about his performance last night i guess it happened again.

Of course he will just join the team for the next WC again. I suppose it is time for idiots like Maradona to start supporting Messi instead of putting pressure on him sitting in their high seats snorting cocaine.

You want to get the best performance out of someone, you motivate them using whatever triggers them, my guess would be pampering or at least a positive approach with this certain individual.

Coming season I'll be oohing and aaahing his ball control and oversight and selfless brilliance again on the european fields.

It's a different kind of pressure playing for your country. Some players embrace it and others crumble. That's why players like Zidane and Brazilian Ronaldo are held in such high regard.