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Lionel Messi may have 'staged' Argentina retirement - Diego Maradona

16:35, Friday, 26 August, 2016
Lionel Messi may have 'staged' Argentina retirement - Diego Maradona

Diego Maradona has suggested Lionel Messi "staged" his retirement from international football after Argentina lost the Copa America Centenario final to Chile earlier this summer.

Messi, 29, called time on his Albiceleste career after a third final defeat in as many years, following losses to Germany at the World Cup in 2014 and Chile in the Copa America last year.

However, he has since reversed his decision and forms part of new manager Edgardo Bauza's first squad for next week's World Cup qualifiers against Uruguay and Venezuela.

Argentina legend Maradona, who coached Messi at the 2010 World Cup, toldTyC Sports: "[Messi] escaped the criticism but the Argentines suffered.

"Maybe his retirement was staged to make us forget about the three final losses."

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