Lionel Messi fails again with Argentina’s national team

Lionel Messi has come up short again in his attempt to succeed with Argentina’s national team. Messi looked nothing like the star that he is with Barcelona on Saturday, and Argentina lost the Copa America final to host Chile 4-1 on penalties in Santiago, Chile, extending its 22-year title drought. The four-time world player of the year scored his team’s lone goal in the penalty shootout, but had a fruitless performance in the scoreless regulation and extra time. Saturday’s disappointment comes less than a year since he also failed to lead Argentina to victory in the World Cup final. The next chance Messi will have to win a title with Argentina is in next year’s centennial Copa America in the United States. Before that, the 31-year-old playmaker will help his nation in qualifying for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. – AP