From president to social media, Argentina wants Messi back

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — The president of Argentina said Tuesday he hopes to meet Lionel Messi next week and convince him to return to the national team.

President Mauricio Macri said he had spoken by telephone with Messi, who announced his shock retirement from the Argentine national team following the loss Sunday to Chile on penalty kicks in the Copa America final in the United States.

Messi returned Monday to Argentina, but has not spoken publicly.

Macri said he told Messi to "ignore some of the nonsense because, truth be told, we are all very happy" with how the Barcelona star has played for Argentina.

Messi, who moved to Barcelona at age 13, has often faced tough criticism in Argentina because he has failed to deliver the country a major title — in contrast to his repeated success at Barcelona.

He is often compared unfavorably to Maradona, who led Argentina to the 1986 World Cup title.

Macri said he didn't understand the criticism of Messi.

"The truth is that it's good fortune, a joy, a gift from God to have the best player in the world in a country like ours that is so football-crazy," said Macri, a former president of Argentine club Boca Juniors.

Macri's lobbying could be helped by a gathering planned Saturday at the obelisk in central Buenos Aires, the city's most famous landmark.

Support for Messi has been overwhelming on social media with sports figures, artists and politicians urging him to return. Billboards and signs across the city are also asking him to stay.

In the midst of the turmoil, the Buenos Aires city hall unveiled a statue of Messi — with a football at his foot — alongside other national sports stars.

In another show of support, some members of Argentina's 1986 World Cup team posed for a photograph that contained a written plea: "Don't Go Lio."

Maradona, the biggest star on that team, was not in the photo.

TV commentators have speculated that Messi spoke out in frustration after Sunday's 4-2 loss on penalties to Chile following a scoreless draw.

"The national team is over for me," Messi told Argentine network TyC Sports. "It's been four finals, it's not meant for me. I tried. It was the thing I wanted the most, but I couldn't get it, so I think it's over."

It didn't help that Messi himself lifted Argentina's first penalty kick over the crossbar, setting the stage for another final defeat. Messi and Argentina lost to Brazil in the 2007 Copa final and to Germany in extra time in the 2014 World Cup final in Brazil. They lost last year's Copa final to host Chile on penalty kicks after a 0-0 draw.