Soccer star Lionel Messi said he was retiring from the Argentine national team after suffering yet another defeat in a final, this time a 4-2 loss to Chile in a penalty shootout at the Copa America.

“I thought a lot about it in the locker room, and I think that I’m done with the (national) team. It’s over,” the Argentine national team captain said after Sunday night’s loss.

“I have fought a lot, I did try, but it’s been four finals and I couldn’t win one. I’ve done everything possible. It hurts me more than anyone else, but it’s obvious that this isn’t in the cards for me. I wished more than anyone to get a title with the team, but, unfortunately, it didn’t happen,” Messi said.

Messi missed one of the penalty kicks in the loss to Chile in a final similar to last year’s Copa America.

In the 2015 championship match, Chile captured its first Copa America title by defeating Argentina 4-1 in a penalty shootout that followed two hours of scoreless action on the field.

“I already made the decision. I did all I could to try and win something, but the truth is, it’s over. I had been thinking about it. It was this chance, or it’s over,” the 29-year-old Messi said.

After missing the first penalty kick for Argentina, the Barcelona forward collapsed, bowed his head, began crying and walked around the field until the defeat was final, with no one able to console him.

Argentina lost the Copa America finals in 2007, 2015 and this year with Messi on the field, and the South American soccer giant reached the 2014 World Cup final but fell to Germany.

The only international titles Argentina has won with Messi on the roster were the 2005 Under 20 World Cup in the Netherlands and the Olympic gold medal in the Under 23 category at the 2008 Beijing Games. EFE

East Rutherford, New Jersey, Jun 27 (EFE).