Argentines begged Lionel Messi not to quit the national team after its defeat, but his friends said the country has mistreated its greatest footballing asset.
The superstar left the field in tears after missing his penalty kick in the Copa America Centenario final shootout against Chile on Sunday. He promptly told reporters he was quitting.
"I've done all I can, I've been in four finals and it hurts not to be a champion," Messi said.
"It's a hard moment for me and the team, and it's difficult to say, but it's over with the Argentina team."
He is widely rated the best player in the world, but people close to Messi complained of how harshly he has been judged in his homeland.
"This lad is just saturated with criticism and being so badly treated,he has every right to quit," said Ernesto Vecchio, who was Messi's first coach in his native city of Rosario who now runs the Messi Foundation football school for underprivileged children, told AFP.
"I don't want him to quit but when I put myself in his shoes it seems unfair that they should look to him as the savior when there are 11 players in the team."
Messi's cool head on the pitch makes him an efficient goalscorer, but his reserved manner has sometimes drawn criticism.
Ahead of this month's Copa, Messi was accused of having "no personality" by Diego Maradona.
"I knew him when he was a kid. He is very sensitive though his face doesn't always show it," said Enrique Dominguez, who coached Messi as a child at Newell Old Boys football club.
"He missed a penalty and all the wonderful things we have seen him do were ruined."
- Argentina changes -
The star's departure could lead to a change in the Argentina line-up.
Manchester City star Sergio Aguero warned that other players could also quit the national side.
"We were all devastated in the dressing room, particularly Leo, I'd never seen him in such a state," he said.
"Several players are wondering whether to continue. It's our toughest defeat to take."
Aguero did not say whether he would follow Messi in quitting but his name and those of Javier Mascherano and Gonzalo Higuain were mentioned in media reports.
"I know how competitive he is and he will get over it as he has many times before," the Spain defender Gerard Pique said.
Messi's announcement followed Argentina's third loss in a major final in three years.
His decision to quit came after a grueling season disrupted by injury last year. He is also on trial for tax fraud in Spain.
After Sunday's final, his typical composure gave way to tears of frustration.
His departure left many fans no longer thinking about losing the Copa -- such as Juan Armando Menutti, 60, in Buenos Aires.
"I am more sad about him quitting," he said.
"Losing a final is something that happens in sport," wrote another fan, Fede Ruiz, on Twitter.
"But losing you is the most painful defeat of all."
Other fans posted on twitter "Don't go Leo", "Messi stay".
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