Messi is the greatest thing we have in Argentina : President Macri

Mauricio Macri said, “We are lucky, it is one of life's pleasures, it is a gift from God to have the best player in the world in a footballing country like ours," AFP reported.

In a news conference before a cabinet meeting in in Buenos Aires, the President said, “Lionel Messi is the greatest thing we have in Argentina and we must take care of him,” reported AFP.

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Messi had left the field in tears after Argentina lost the Copa America Centenario final to defending champions Chile in penalties. The Barcelona talisman had missed his penalty-kick and told reporters after the final that he was quitting international football. When he landed in Buenos Aires on Monday, he was greeted by "Don't go, Leo" signs from fans.

Neither the team nor he made any comments before Messi went to his home city of Rosario, AFP reported. Thereafter, President Macri had telephoned Messi on Monday and spoken to him.

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"I spoke to him to congratulate him and tell him that the team played a great tournament," he said, AFP reported.

Argentina have now lost three successive finals in three years – the 2014 World Cup, 2015 and 2016 Copa America- with Messi as captain.

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