Lionel Messi Consider Retiring After the World Cup

Hanging shoes considerations from the international stage taken Messi for the good of Argentina.
Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has indicated that he will withdraw from the international stage if Argentina fails in the 2018 World Cup.

The 30-year-old attacker, who has 125 appearances since debuting in 2005, made a similar decision two years ago before returning.

Messi is reportedly getting frustrated with his country's media treatment, which often criticized the failure of many major tournaments like four years ago when losing to Germany in the World Cup final.

Ahead of this summer's tournament in Russia, the five-time Ballon d'Or winner declares that retirement for the good of the national team is already under consideration.

"That [retirement decision] will depend on how we perform, how we end it [the World Cup]," Messi told Sport.

"In fact, we lost three times in the final of the tournament and it has caused some complicated moments with Argentine media due to the difference in how we perceive the meaning of achievement to the final."

"It is not easy and achieving three finals should be appreciated, it's true that winning the trophy is important, but to get there [the final] is not easy." Argentina, a two-time World Cup winner, will meet Iceland, Croatia and Nigeria in this year's group stage campaign.