Lionel Messi urged not to retire


Lionel Messi has been urged by Carlos Tevez not to retire from international football following Argentina's chaotic 2018 World Cup.

 It was a disappointing campaign for Argentina as they started the tournament with a 1-1 draw against Iceland before getting a 3-0 thrashing by Croatia. However, they progressed to round of 16 and were knocked out by champions France. This left Messi still searching for his first senior international title. The international future of five-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi is uncertain after the 31-year-old retired briefly following Argentina's Copa America final loss to Chile in 2016.
Tevez urged Argentina to do more to ensure the country's all-time leading goalscorer can succeed on the world stage.

 "I think Leo has to think about himself. He has to think that, if there is not a project that makes him happy and in which he feels comfortable, it is very difficult to take the responsibility of leading Argentina to become champions by himself," said Tevez.

 "We are wasting a lot of time not having him happy and not being able to give him a hand to achieve that target. I think we are wrong in not being able to help him feel comfortable.

 "As a player and as an Argentine I tell him that we need him, that he tries to rest, that he keeps a cool head and that we need him. We need him because he is the soul of Argentina and, as long as he continues playing football, it has to be that way because he is Argentina's biggest idol and he has to take that responsibility.

 "Now [I tell him] to rest, keep a cool head and try to be well, then we need him to take charge and on the pitch."

 In the meantime, the focus is on Argentina replacing former head coach Sampaoli. Peru boss Ricardo Gareca and Colombia's Jose Pekerman have been linked with the vacant post.

Pekerman led Argentina at the 2006 World Cup and Tevez – who was part of the squad that reached the quarter-finals in

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