Pelé: 'Messi's retirement is sad for football'

As the ball sailed high over Claudio Bravo's crossbar, Lionel Messi looked down at the ground -- as if already contemplating the need to ask for forgiveness.


This was not the way it was supposed to be. Tearing at his Argentina jersey in disbelief, he would announce his retirement from international football an hour later.
For once, a player described as "from another planet" was sombre, tearful and painfully human, reflecting "I tried so hard to be a champion with Argentina, but it didn't happen. I couldn't do it."
Now, as five Ballon d'Ors and countless medals from his time at Barcelona gather dust in Messi's trophy cabinet, an empty space remains.
Success on the international stage will forever elude him, and talk of him being the "greatest ever"  will necessarily be appended with a "But."

The greatest ever?
For some, Messi's Argentina retirement means he can never surpass Pelé. Now 76 years old, the Brazilian was a World Cup winner on three occasions.
Pele was a loyal servant to the club he signed with age 16 -- Santos. He spent 18 years there as a player, winning over 20 trophies and scoring more than 600 goals.I had many offers to play for Real Madrid, in Milan and Manchester United Pele said, However Santos was doing well, I was playing well. I didn't want to leave. Nowadays, players leave very early.