Is Lionel Messi Leaving Argentina's Soccer Team?

AS IT IS 2016-06-28 Is Lionel Messi Leaving Argentina's Soccer Team?

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The Chilean national soccer team won the Copa America tournament on Sunday night in the U.S. state of New Jersey¹.

Chile defeated Argentina on penalty² kicks after both teams played 120 minutes without scoring a goal. Chile made four penalty kicks. Argentina only made two.

It was the second straight year Chile defeated Argentina on penalty kicks to win the Copa America tournament.

Argentina’s star player, Lionel Messi, was one of the players who failed to make his penalty kick.

As the Chilean players celebrated³ their victory, Messi held his head in his hands and cried.

Many people say Messi is the best soccer player in the world. Perhaps, they say, he is the best ever. He is a five-time FIFA world player of the year with his club team, Barcelona.

But his career is still missing⁴ one thing: a major tournament championship.

The Argentine team lost to Germany in the finals of the 2014 World Cup. During the 2010 World Cup, the team lost to Germany in the quarterfinals.

Messi did help Argentina win a team gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China. But that is not considered a major championship in men’s soccer.

After Sunday night’s game, Messi said he might quit playing for Argentina’s national team. He would, however, continue playing with Barcelona.

He told an Argentine television network, “the national team is over for me. 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.”

Some people say Messi was only reacting to the loss, and that he will be back with the national team in time to play in the 2018 World Cup.

Messi has scored 55 goals playing with Argentina. That is the most ever by an Argentinean soccer player. He scored five goals and assisted⁵ on four others during the Copa America tournament.

Chile’s coach, Juan Antonio Pizzi, is from Argentina. After the championship game, the coach called Messi “the best player in history.”

And, for 10 hours after the game, Messi and the hashtag #NoTeVayasLio were top trending topics on Twitter. The hashtag, in Spanish, means “Do not go, Lio.”

#NoTeVayasLio i'd rather lose with you than lose you pic.twitter.com/cJIv7y03Sk

— april (@tomlinsrogue) June 27, 2016

One person from Egypt wrote: “Come back Leo. You are the best player in the all history. Don’t give up if you can do more.”

From Egypt.. Come back Leo you are the best player in the all history.. Don't give up you can do more ?#NoTeVayasLio pic.twitter.com/5GMbwlFd1e

— sherif Ali (@Ali702S) June 27, 2016

Words in This Story

coach – n. the person in charge of organizing and teaching⁶ a sports team

penalty kick – n. in soccer when one player kicks the ball toward⁷ the goal with only the goalie playing defense⁸. Used to decide the winner of a game if it has ended with both teams having the same score

club – n. a sports team or organization

tournament – n. a sports competition or series of contests that involves many players or teams and that usually continues for at least several days

medal – n. a piece of metal often in the form of a coin with designs and words in honor⁹ of a special event, a person, or an achievement

quit – v. to leave (a job, school, career, etc.)

quarterfinals – n. one of four matches, games, or contests to decide the four people or teams that will continue playing in a competition (such as a tennis tournament

1 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

2 penalty   

n.处罚，刑罚，罚款

参考例句：

• If you knock the ball with your hand in football,you will suffer a penalty.如果在踢足球时你用手碰到球，你将受到处罚。
• One of those arrested could face the death penalty.被捕的那些人中有一人可能被判死刑。

3 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

4 missing   

adj.遗失的，缺少的，失踪的

参考例句：

• Check the tools and see if anything is missing.检点一下工具，看有无丢失。
• All the others are here;he's the only one missing.别人都来了，就短他一个。

5 assisted   

adj.[计]辅助的v.帮助，促进( assist的过去式和过去分词 )；为…的助手；为…当帮手；辅助

参考例句：

• We were ably assisted by a team of volunteers. 我们得到一批志愿者的大力协助。
• The nurse assisted with the preparation of the medicine. 护士帮助准备药品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 teaching   

n.教学，执教，任教，讲授；(复数)教诲

参考例句：

• We all agree in adopting the new teaching method. 我们一致同意采取新的教学方法。
• He created a new system of teaching foreign languages.他创造了一种新的外语教学体系。

7 toward   

prep.对于，关于，接近，将近，向，朝

参考例句：

• Suddenly I saw a tall figure approaching toward the policeman.突然间我看到一个高大的身影朝警察靠近。
• Upon seeing her,I smiled and ran toward her. 看到她我笑了，并跑了过去。

8 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

9 honor   

n.光荣；敬意；荣幸；vt.给…以荣誉；尊敬

参考例句：

• I take your visit as a great honor.您的来访是我莫大的光荣。
• It is a great honor to receive that prize.能拿到那个奖是无上的光荣。