LIONEL MESSI is once again a losing finalist on the international stage.
The world’s best player has raked in five Ballon d’Or’s, eight La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues, and four Copa Del Rey’s in an illustrious domestic career.
But for Argentina? One Olympic gold medal and FOUR final defeats.
It’s an alarming stat for a player of such extraordinary powers – and it’s hardly as if the supporting cast has been weak in his time as an international.
With the news that Messi has quit Argentina following another heartbreaking shootout loss, SunSport takes a look back at those losses.
2007: Copa America – Defeated 3-0 by Brazil
LET’s start in Venezuela, on a sun soaked July evening in Maracaibo.
Argentina were in search of their fifteenth Copa America title and had cruised through their group winning all three games, before dispatching Peru, then Mexico in the knockout stages to set up a final against old-rivals Brazil.
Messi had netted twice already in the tournament and was picked to start against a Samba side boasting Robinho in his youthful pomp, Elano and Vagner Love.
It was one of those days where nothing went right for La Albiceleste.
Just four minutes in they were behind, former Gunner Julio Baptista netting from an Elano through ball.
And it was two before the break as Roberto Ayala netted a disastrous own goal.
Messi had burst onto the tournament scene with a wonderful individual goal against Mexico – but could do nothing as the counter-attacking Brazilians dismantled the Argentines at will.
They added a third late on through Dani Alves after Alfio Basile’s side had thrown the kitchen sink at the Brazil goal – and Messi was left to watch on as the yellow shirts partied on the podium in front of him.
2014: World Cup – Defeated 1-0 by Germany (AET)
SINCE that disappointment of 2007, Messi had risen from promising youngster to fully fledged world superstar.
But that rise also brought expectations – huge expectations – as a nation piled pressure on the shoulders of the Argentine side going into the World Cup in Brazil.
After cruising through the group, with Messi saving blushes with a last minute stunner against Iran, Argentina hacked their way to the final with unconvincing wins over Switzerland and Belgium before penalty success against the Dutch.
The stage was set against Germany in Rio for a South American party as Argentina, and indeed the world, expected Messi to rise to the occasion.
It never happened.
On the grandest of stages, with the footballing world ready for a show, Messi failed to turn up.
It was a tournament littered with magic Messi touches – the delicious assist for Angel Di Maria to net an extra time winner in the quarter final, that late curler against Iran.
But after an anonymous 90 minutes, the Barca wizard watched on limply as the Germans netted in extra time through Mario Gotze and destroyed the dream.
2015: Copa America – Defeated by Chile 4-1 on pens
DESPITE defeat to Germany still heavy on Argentine minds, the countries golden generation rocked up to Chile as tournament favourites.
Messi was coming off, by his standards, an iffy season at Barcelona and Cristiano Ronaldo had wrestled the Ballon d’Or back from his grasp.
And he wasn’t at his best throughout a stuttering tournament, netting just the once.
But optimism was high after the 6-1 demolition of Paraguay in the semi-finals, with Chile made underdogs going into the showdown in Santiago.
He twisted, he turned, he moved like we know he can.
But the illusive goal never arrived.
Messi was now Argentine captain and he led from the front – but a superstar team featuring Di Maria, Sergio Aguero and Javier Pastore couldn’t find a way through.
It came to penalties and the skipper stepped up first to score.
But his teammates couldn’t repeat the trick as Gonzalo Higuain and Ever Banega both missed to heap yet more international misery on a tearful Messi.
2016: Copa America – Defeated by Chile 4-2 on pens
COMING into this year’s tournament, Messi had the shadow of his tax evasion trial hanging over him like a dark cloud.
So much so that he began the tournament on the bench.
But he was fresh as a result, and once he was unleashed against Panama in the group stages, the magic began.
He whacked a 30-minute hat-trick in that game, followed it with a pair of assists against Bolivia and was the key man as the USA and Venezuela were thrashed out of sight.
Going into the final there looked only one outcome - with Argentina out for revenge for last years penalty defeat.
But in a recurring theme of Messi's international career, on the big stage the pressure gave way to nerves and missed opportunities.
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The passing was still there, the majestic first touch - but the finishing was not.
Penalties came round, yet again.
Messi volunteered to step up first, yet again.
But this time even he felt the pinch, firing high over the bar to relive a recurring nightmare.
His immediate retirement from international football at the age of just 29 was perhaps a kneejerk reaction.
And despite the lack of honours, the world stage would be a worse place if the finest player of our generation doesn't pull on the blue and white stripes again.
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