Was the 2018 World Cup the last we will see of Lionel Messi in an Argentina shirt?

The answer to that is currently unclear, but he hasn’t yet retired following Argentina’s woeful showing in Russia.

Messi retired after Argentina lost the 2016 Copa America final.

And the manner of La Albiceleste’s last-16 exit at the World Cup has led many to wonder if he’s preparing to make the same decision - but permanently this time.

Argentina weren’t helped by some questionable management from Jorge Sampaoli but the squad simply isn’t very good.

And if there are no signs of improvement before the 2019 Copa America, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Messi decided to retire from the international scene for good.

It would be a major blow for the national team.

Tevez discusses Messi's future

To say they are limited without Messi is an understatement.

And one person who knows just how important he is is Carlos Tevez.

Tevez wants Messi to continue playing for Argentina - and believes the national team must do more to keep him happy.

"I think Leo has to think about himself," Tevez told ESPN.

"He has to think that, if there is not a project that makes him happy and in which he feels comfortable, it is very difficult to take the responsibility of leading Argentina to become champions by himself.

"We are wasting a lot of time not having him happy and not being able to give him a hand to achieve that target.

“I think we are wrong in not being able to help him feel comfortable.

“We need him because he is the soul of Argentina and, as long as he continues playing football, it has to be that way.

"Now [I tell him] to rest, keep a cool head and try to be well, then we need him to take charge and on the pitch."

The concern for Messi has to be whether he can actually achieve anything with Argentina.

He has lost three finals - three Copa America, one World Cup - and his reaction to losing to Chile in the 2016 Copa America final said a lot.

If he doesn’t feel as if he can win a tournament with Argentina, then why continue?

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