Maradona criticises Messi over international retirement

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina: Argentina great Diego Maradona has criticised Lionel Messi, suggesting that the Barcelona star’s retirement from international football, and subsequent change of heart, was “staged”.

“I don’t know whether this was staged to make us understand that he’d lost three finals, but we never lost by big margins,” said Maradona to radio station La Red.

Messi announced his retirement from international football after Argentina lost the Copa America final to Chile on penalties in June, with the Barcelona forward crucially missing in the shoot-out.

Maradona believes Messi spoke too rashly and upset many people in Argentina with his comments. “He got annoyed for nothing. He wasn’t to blame for the defeat, others were. So why did he announce his retirement? He spoke too quickly, made everyone hold their breath (on a potential return),” added Maradona