Bengaluru, July 5: The entire football world mourned when Lionel Messi announced his retirement from international football last week (June 27) after Argentina lost to Chile in the penalty shootout at the Copa America 2016 final.
Lionel Messi himself missed a penalty during the shootout which costed his country most. It was also Messi's fourth loss in a final of major international tournament and third consecutive.
Right after the final out of clear frustration the world's best footballer decided to hand his boots.
While some supported his decision, some people went all guns blazing at the champion footballer for taking such a hasty and ridiculous decision.
Former players like Pele and Deigo Maradona consoled him and adviced to reconsider his decision of retirement.
But The most awaited comment in this issue was yet to come. Yes you guessed it right, it was Cristiano Ronaldo's views, and it has arrived.
Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, the Portuguese captain Ronaldo appealed to Lionel Messi to take back his decision. He also supported Messi and said that missing a penalty does not define how good or how bad a player is.
He was quoted saying: "Messi has taken a tough decision and people should understand. He is not accustomed to defeats and disappointments, not even finish the second. Missing a penalty does not make you a bad player.
"It hurts to see Messi in tears and I hope he returns to his country, because he needs it."
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are arch-rivals on the pitch. They play for two of fiercest rivals in Spain, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona respectively.
The two players have bagged eight Ballon d'Or trophies, 5 for Messi and 3 for Ronaldo and football fans around the world cherish the rivalry between two of the greatest footballers the world has ever seen.
OneIndia News